Grace Persinger

It is with great sadness that we must announce the death of our beloved mother, Grace Marie Persinger, on March 16, 2023 at the age of 96. Our mother was a woman of many talents and interests, and a loving and nurturing force in all of our lives. She was a loving partner to her late husband, Stant, and a devoted mother to their four children, Jennifer Marie (Robert Snideman), Susan Grace (Gary Aniskevich-late), Steven James (Chris Dienger) and Jonathan David (Karen Krueger).

Grace was born in Chicago on the 3rd of August, 1926 to Ethel Loser and James Joseph Mccord. Her family moved to Port Huron and then to Keego Harbor where she attended Roosevelt High School, as did her sisters, Ruth and Alice. Grace excelled in the high jump, played basketball and was voted most representative student for her graduating class in 1944. She married her high school sweetheart, Stant Persinger,Jr., just before he deployed with the Army Air Corps to the European Theater of World War II. After the war they settled in Keego Harbor to raise their family.

Always a hard worker, when just 13 she began working at The Rotunda Inn by The Pine Lake Country Club. Grace was a switchboard operator after high school at Michigan Bell Telephone. She spent years caring for her home and family before going back to work outside the home. She worked at Montgomery Ward’s Department Store and was an operator/receptionist at Oakland County Medical Care Facility, retiring as office supervisor.

Mama loved music, singing, dancing, and reading; especially literature and poetry. She still remembered many poems at age 96. Grace was a natural artist, painting many lovely watercolors after her retirement. She also had a great eye for photography, and took many beautiful photographs from all over the country. Stant and Grace loved to travel with their children during summer vacation. After retirement they set up a camper van and continued to explore. They visited every state in the union, even driving to Alaska. Grace toured in Europe twice, once with Jonathan and once with Susan. Carol, Chris’ Mom, helped us plan a 2 week trip through Costa Rica that was unforgettable. Grace often spent the winters in Englewood, Florida with her daughter, Jennifer, her son-in-law Rob and Susan.

Grace had a giving nature. She supported many animal and wilderness protection organizations along with support for health and welfare organizations around the world. Public Radio and TV were also benefactors of her social responsibility. She and Stant were always concerned with the state of the earth and did due diligence to protect her in their everyday actions.

Grace enjoyed life so much and knew how to make the most of what she had. She was an excellent cook and baker; every meal was prepared with love and care. Grace could be competitive, and particularly liked to win at cards. She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter. She collected rocks, shells and feathers; and we all spent many happy hours combing the beaches of Michigan. Grace and Stant were avid motorcycle riders, and were active all their lives with swimming, sailing, hiking and exploring new places. They loved their family with all they had. Stant passed away in 1998 from ALS. They leave behind their four children, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Donations to PBS, Doctors Without Border, or National Resources Defence Council, in lieu of flowers, would follow Grace’s thoughts.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, August 3rd

For a memorial from 1 PM to 4 PM at

The Woodland Cabin, Connor Bayou County Park

12945 N. Cedar Dr., Grand Haven MI 49417

to celebrate and remember Grace.