Michele Eileen Jacobsen
April 23rd, 1942 - May 29th, 2022
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Michele's Obituary
Michele Eileen (Cummins Behnke) Jacobsen was born on April 23, 1942 to Michael J. and Mary E. (Wallace) Cummins in Chicago, IL. She lived in Chicago until the age of 10, when her mother married Bernard L. Sherburn and they moved to Lawton Michigan and eventually to Decatur, MI.
Michele graduated from Decatur High School in the Class of 1960. She was a cheerleader, senior class treasurer, homecoming queen, and 1st runner up to Miss Decatur. Michele went on to attend Western Michigan University and got her teaching degree. She worked at the Decatur Newsstand during her high school years working for Bob and Helen Hillyer, a job she loved.
In 1965, she married Jerry Behnke, and in 1966 she gave birth to her only child, Kimberly, and she survives.
After college Michele accepted a full time position at Coloma Public Schools. After a couple of years at Coloma she relocated to California. While in CA she taught business classes full time at the University of San Diego in San Diego, CA and part time at Sweetwater High School in Chula Vista, CA.
After about 10 years Michele again relocated, this time moving to Durham, NC. There she taught full time at Durham Technical Community College and part time at Duke University. Michele was always a worker, holding down 2 jobs most of her life.
After retirement, Michele moved back to Lawton, Michigan and eventually moved to Portage where she lived the last couple of years. Michele loved Michigan and always considered it her home, so it was no surprise when she moved back after retirement. During retirement Michele also substitute taught at Decatur Schools.
Michele passed away peacefully with family by her side, on May 29, 2022 at Rose Arbor Hospice, Kalamazoo, MI after brief illness with cancer.
Michele is survived by her daughter, Kimberly (Behnke) Bradford of Paw Paw, MI. Her siblings, Rosemary Cummins (Urbanski Brandt) of Chicago, IL, Bernard C Sherburn of Decatur, and Lisa (Sherburn) Hester-Syers of Portage, MI. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Frank Urbanski Jr, Michael Fitzpatrick, John Brandt, Cindy (Coffey) Collins, Michele (Coffey) Mayo, David Coffey, James McCarthy, Katherine McCarthy, Samantha Copeland, Marcie (Sherburn) Summons, Lori (Sherburn) Gunnett, Jennifer (Sherburn) Caron, Cristine (Sherburn) Spurlin, Keith Sherburn, Tiffany (Sherburn) Payne, Elizabeth (Sherburn) Gear, Jessica Sherburn, Justin Sherburn, Joshua Hester, Kimberly (Hester) Evans, Krista (Hester) Gill, and many great nieces and nephews.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Mary (Wallace Cummins) Sherburn and Bernard L Sherburn Sr., her sister Sandra (Cummins Coffey McCarthy) Copeland, and her niece and nephew David Urbanski and Carol (Urbanski) Karaholios.
According to Michele's wishes cremation has taken place. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at 11am, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Harrison Cemetery, Decatur, MI.
Michele graduated from Decatur High School in the Class of 1960. She was a cheerleader, senior class treasurer, homecoming queen, and 1st runner up to Miss Decatur. Michele went on to attend Western Michigan University and got her teaching degree. She worked at the Decatur Newsstand during her high school years working for Bob and Helen Hillyer, a job she loved.
In 1965, she married Jerry Behnke, and in 1966 she gave birth to her only child, Kimberly, and she survives.
After college Michele accepted a full time position at Coloma Public Schools. After a couple of years at Coloma she relocated to California. While in CA she taught business classes full time at the University of San Diego in San Diego, CA and part time at Sweetwater High School in Chula Vista, CA.
After about 10 years Michele again relocated, this time moving to Durham, NC. There she taught full time at Durham Technical Community College and part time at Duke University. Michele was always a worker, holding down 2 jobs most of her life.
After retirement, Michele moved back to Lawton, Michigan and eventually moved to Portage where she lived the last couple of years. Michele loved Michigan and always considered it her home, so it was no surprise when she moved back after retirement. During retirement Michele also substitute taught at Decatur Schools.
Michele passed away peacefully with family by her side, on May 29, 2022 at Rose Arbor Hospice, Kalamazoo, MI after brief illness with cancer.
Michele is survived by her daughter, Kimberly (Behnke) Bradford of Paw Paw, MI. Her siblings, Rosemary Cummins (Urbanski Brandt) of Chicago, IL, Bernard C Sherburn of Decatur, and Lisa (Sherburn) Hester-Syers of Portage, MI. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Frank Urbanski Jr, Michael Fitzpatrick, John Brandt, Cindy (Coffey) Collins, Michele (Coffey) Mayo, David Coffey, James McCarthy, Katherine McCarthy, Samantha Copeland, Marcie (Sherburn) Summons, Lori (Sherburn) Gunnett, Jennifer (Sherburn) Caron, Cristine (Sherburn) Spurlin, Keith Sherburn, Tiffany (Sherburn) Payne, Elizabeth (Sherburn) Gear, Jessica Sherburn, Justin Sherburn, Joshua Hester, Kimberly (Hester) Evans, Krista (Hester) Gill, and many great nieces and nephews.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Mary (Wallace Cummins) Sherburn and Bernard L Sherburn Sr., her sister Sandra (Cummins Coffey McCarthy) Copeland, and her niece and nephew David Urbanski and Carol (Urbanski) Karaholios.
According to Michele's wishes cremation has taken place. A graveside celebration of life service will be held at 11am, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Harrison Cemetery, Decatur, MI.
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