Leanna Marie Schwab

Leanna Marie (Merritt) Schwab, 38, of Hastings, Michigan, passed away on January 19, 2011 after a courageous year long battle with cancer. Adored Wife of Jody L. Schwab, beloved Mother of Bradley Merritt, treasured Mom of Melany Schwab and Jason Schwab. Leanna was born in Jerome, Idaho to Gerald R. (deceased) and Susan (Preston) Merritt. Leanna graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School in 1990. She spent two years in the US Army, where she was stationed in Korea and Ft. Hood, Texas. Leanna was employed as Dealer Filing and Storage Account Manager at Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, of Walker, MI, where she continued to work in the office when able, and from home when she was suffering the effects of chemotherapy.\r
Leanna was preceded in death by her father, Gerald R. Merritt; maternal grandparents, Warren Preston and Geraldine Neal; paternal grandparents Arthur Merritt and Marceline Merritt, and Uncle Art Sjoberg. She is survived by her husband and children; her parents, Sue and Harold Pease of Ovid, parents-in-law Don and Jan Schwab of Florida, brothers Russell Merritt of Pembroke, VA, Jeffrey Merritt of St. Johns, and Dan Hough of Owosso; step-siblings Kevin (Mary) Pease, Shari (Mike) Yawn, and Steven (Michele) Pease; dedicated siblings-in-law Josh and Maggie Schwab; special aunts Kathy Preston and Peggy (Bruce) Droste; Uncle Daniel (Donna) Neal; cousins Patrick Webb, Deanna Causey, Larry Briggs, Heather Lofton, Christopher Neal and Michael Neal, special nieces Brandi Dussing, Miranda VanHaun, Amber Schwab and Kasey Schwab, and nephews Brandon Merritt, Kolton Meyer and Joshua Schwab. She will be sorely missed by her Pipp family, Evelyn, Allen, Jim, the ""Pipp Chicks"", and the entire staff and warehouse crew, whose constant support of the commitment to Leanna have been unparalleled; her account managers and clients, whose cards and gifts have meant so much; special friends Shelley and Dave Lilly, Nancy and Steve Stephens, Tamika Shinaver and Kris Howell. \r
A Memorial Celebration of Leanna's life will be held Saturday, January 29, 2011, 11:00 am at the Church of the Nazarene, 83 E. Tuttle Rd, Ionia, MI 48846, with a luncheon to follow. Rev. Kirk Starkweather will be officiating the service. \r
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Michigan.\r
Arrangements are by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. Please visit our website to leave a message or memory to the family. (girrbachfuneralhome.net). \r