R. Ann Schumaker, age 87 of Middleville, died of heart disease Monday, Jan. 8, at Mercy Health St. Mary’s Hospital.

She lived out her fervent wish to remain independent in her home at the lake with her animals and against seemingly steep odds.

Ann spent many years working at Dick’s Food Market in Dorr and in her later years at Cinder’s Pharmacy in Hastings. Ann and husband Jim were members of Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church.

Ann is survived by her sister, Rose Marie Kalkman of Atlanta, Georgia and her six children: Kathy and Mic Mutschler, Suzi and Tim Tobolic, Jim Schumaker and Nabil Ghazal, John and Stacy Schumaker, Mary and Rick Helmus, Bill and Renee Schumaker and special family friend Betty Sue Van Dyk; her 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law: Marilyn Swiontek, Gerie and Daryl Fleser, and brothers-in-law, Bud DeVries and Bob Weick, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and L. Mary McGann, her 10 siblings, and her husband James Schumaker.

A time for relatives and friends to visit with Ann’s family will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Services in Dorr, 4330 18th Ave. and one hour before the funeral service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at10:30 AM, Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, 159-131st Ave., in Wayland with Rev. Father Chuck Fischer presiding.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.