Jackie Stewart

Jackie A. Stewart was the best mother and grandmother who, through her commitment to her family, redefined the concept of unconditional love. She had a full, caring heart, and everyone who spent time with her felt the warmth of her presence. The year 1943 found the United States deeply engulfed in the battles of World War II. While generals celebrated the dedication of The Pentagon, thousands of miles away soldiers engaged in the Battle of Guadalcanal, defeating Japanese troops. In Muskegon, Michigan, Almond and Martha (Hauck) Stewart were having a celebration of their own with the joyous birth of their daughter, Jackie Ann, on April 11, 1943. Jackie was the youngest of six children with three brothers, Raymond, Donald and Gene, and sisters, Marlene and Beverly. Jackie led a typical childhood of the time, growing up in their family home on Agnes Street in Muskegon. She spent many summers working on her relatives farm on the outskirts of town, picking strawberries, a job she truly disliked. Her parents both worked to provide for their family her father was in law enforcement and her mother was a manager at Coles Bakery. Jackie received her education in the Muskegon Public Schools, though she didnt much like school and was known to skip a day here and there. Yet, it was during those high school days that she met, John Stolcenburg. They started dating, fell in love and were happily married in November 1962, after John returned home from the Navy. After saying I do, the newlyweds settled into married life together in a house on Lakeshore Drive in the Pinchtown neighborhood. John worked at the paper mill, and Jackie waitressed at various restaurants around town, including Walgreens. A year after marrying, the couple delighted in welcoming the birth of their beautiful daughter, Mary Ellen, in 1963. Mary became the focus of Jackies life. She was a caring and attentive mother, who took an active role in every phase of Marys life. Jackie was a Girl Scout Leader for 5 years and got Mary involved with it too. Mary was always thankful for the life lessons this group taught her. There were a lot of fun mother/daughter times that Jackie and Mary shared (and cherished), like when they made a Christmas tree and put together Halloween costumes. When it came to getting away as a family, they packed up and went camping in the Upper Peninsula in the summer. Jackie also stayed busy playing on a bowling league (the 200 Club), and was a charter member of the Lakeside Eagles Auxiliary. Shortly after Jackies marriage to John ended in the late 1970s, she started anew in sunny Naples, Florida. After Mary finished college, she joined her mother there. Jackie stayed busy working as a waitress, and dated a little, but nothing serious. Much of her time she happily spent with her daughter and three wonderful grandchildren, who she adored. Jackie poured as much love into these relationships as she did with her own daughter. She attended her grandkids school and sport events, and celebrated with them for holidays and birthdays. They were truly the shining beacon in her life. In fact, whenever Mary and her family had to move for work, Jackie was close behind. She followed them to Shelbyville, Indiana; Bonita Springs, Florida; Empire, Colorado, where she worked at Marions Restaurant until retiring from waitressing; and last to Sparta, Tennessee. It was the simple things in life that brought Jackie the most pleasure. She was so accepting of people, never judgmental, and found something positive about every situation. Her fun-loving spirit was so contagious as well as her laughter and smile. It was said Jackie was just a kid at heart. She loved her cats, George and Midnight, though nothing compared to the unconditional love she showered her family. They were the ones she shared her life with, and the ones that brought her life immeasurable joy. As Jackie grew older, she had some health problems, mostly due to a severe car accident she was involved in some years ago. More recently, she was diagnosed with cancer, and it spread so rapidly there was little that could be done. After a brief fight, Jackie passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 8, 2012, surrounded by her beloved family. Jackie is survived by her daughter, Mary Ellen (Bob) Martin; grandchildren, James D. Edwards, W. Dakota Martin, and Katherine L. Martin; siblings, Beverly (Warren) Tibbetts, Marlene (Clifford) Lynnes and Donald Stewart. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Gene Stewart and Raymond Stewart. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 6, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon. Please visit Jackies personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you may share a memory and sign the online guest book.