Rachel Gertrude Garrod

Rachel Gertrude Garrod, 93, of Lawrence, died Saturday, Oct. 9th at her home on the farm, surrounded by her family. She was born Feb. 7, 1928, in DeWitt, MI., the daughter of Theodore and Gertrude Lietzke. She was a 1945 graduate of DeWitt High School, and a 1950 graduate of Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, Kalamazoo where she became a registered nurse.

She worked for several years in a doctor's office in Kalamazoo, and later at Watervliet Community Hospital. Rachel, a supervisor for the Pediatric Unit, also delivered babies and later cared for patients on the Med/Surg unit. She retired in 1993 after 30 years of service there.

Rachel was a member of the Lawrence United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, helped with the Mother/Daughter banquets and enjoyed the United Methodist Women's Group. Being a leader for the Arlington Harvester's 4-H Club, Rachel was active in her children's projects with handicrafts and raising various animals for the fair. With a growing family, Rachel raised chickens and became the neighborhood egg lady. Her oldest son, John, remembers delivering the eggs to customers while Rachel drove from house to house. A Red Cross volunteer, the neighborhood nurse, a member of the Ladies Home Extension group, Rachel also spent 12 years on the Lawrence School Board and served as the board secretary. Helping the community and its children were dear to her heart.

On June 2, 1951, Rachel was joyfully united in marriage to Robert Arthur Garrod in DeWitt. Bob and Rachel worked tirelessly milking cows and raising crops on the family farm. Robert preceded her in death on Feb. 26, 2017, soon after celebrating 65 years of marriage. Rachel was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: Harold, LaVerne and Alvin.

She is survived by four children: John (Lissa) Garrod of Galesburg, MI, Kathy (Mark) West of Carol Stream, IL, Jim (Brenda) Garrod of Sheridan, IN, and Paul (Cyndee) Garrod of Paw Paw, MI; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, (and 2 more on the way); many nieces and nephews; a brother-in-law, Fred (Pat) Garrod; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lietzke.

The grandchildren are as follows: Christopher Garrod, Stephanie Aubin, Holly Kelley, Amy Reed, Brittany Harvey, Jennifer Arnold, Kaitlin Schlobohm, Lauren Edsall, Brandon Garrod, and Olivia Garrod. The great-grandchildren: Sadie and Charlotte Arnold, Duncan and Lincoln Kelley, Carson and Adrian Reed, Amelia Aubin, and Cooper Harvey.

In celebration of her life, the family will welcome friends to the Lawrence United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct. 16th. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. and the funeral will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. Pastor Wayne McKenney will be officiating the funeral service. Burial will follow in Colburn Cemetery in Arlington Township.

Rachel asked that memorial contributions be directed to the Lawrence United Methodist Church or the Bronson School of Nursing Scholarship Fund. The family asks that memorial contributions be made in lieu of flowers.

Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.

Rachel was a faithful and loving wife, a loving mother, an inspiring grandmother and great-grandmother, a compassionate and caring nurse, and a wonderful friend to those around her. Her faith and love will be missed by many.