Bernice Marie Lehrer

Jane M Lehrer, 76, of Dowagiac, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, MI. Christian Burial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 26, 2015 at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St., Dowagiac, MI with Father Kevin Covert officiating.  Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery.  Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.JDRF.org in her memory. Those wishing to leave a memory or condolence of Jane online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Jane was born on June 30, 1939 in Port Huron, MI to Harold and Edress (Englehart) Kusterer. Jane graduated from Bay City Central in 1957.  She was working at Woolworth in Flint, MI as the food counter manager when she met Thomas Lehrer. They married on January 14, 1961 in Bay City. Jane was considered a world traveler. She visited all but two of the fifty states. Jane spent a month in Hawaii and vacationed all through Europe. Jane was very active in sports, never letting her 5’ stature slow her down. She enjoyed bowling, golfing and playing volley ball.  Jane loved her flower garden and took great pride in it. She collected Emmett Kelly Jr. clowns.  Jane was lovingly called “Gramma Goon” by the grandchildren she helped raise and by all of their friends. Jane is survived by her husband Thomas, a son; Charles (Denise) Lehrer of Rock Falls, IL, two daughters; Joan Kretchman of Idaho and Patty (Brad) Hickerson of Niles, twelve grandchildren;  Rachel Fulmer, Carolyn (Bob) Shay, Jessica Lehrer, Megan Lehrer, Kathy Kretchman, Kelly Kretchman, Michael Kretchman, Scott Kretchman, Spencer Calley, Ashley Calley, Samantha Calley and Wyatt Niva, four great-grandchildren, two brothers; Harry (Maryellen) Kusterer, Richard Kusterer and a sister Marie (Tom) Willard. Jane was preceded in death by four brothers; Robert, Tom, George and AJ, and a sister Janet Sauer.