Annette E. Schaefer

She was born on December 7, 1946, in L’Anse, the daughter of the late Osmond and Lou (Elmblad) Sirard.

Annette was a graduate of L’Anse High School with the Class of 1965. She then was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Hancock.

On September 10, 1966, she was united in marriage to John Schaefer. The couple resided for a short time in Ypsilanti.

In 1970, the couple moved to make their home in Houghton, where they raised their family.

On December 9, 2004, John preceded Annette in death. Since that time, she made her home in North Grosse Pointe Shores.

Mrs. Schaefer had worked as a nurse for Dr. Belej in Hancock until his retirement. She then worked for Michigan Technological University, and as a veterinary tech, before becoming the Houghton County corrections coordinator, retiring after 15 years.

Since 1978, Annette served her community working as an emergency medical technician specialist for Mercy EMS.

In 1980, Annette became one of the first licensed Emergency Medical Technicians in the State of Michigan. She also was a former board member of the Upper Peninsula Emergency Medical Corporation of Marquette, developed specifically to create the systemization of emergency medical services throughout the Upper Peninsula.

Annette was a lifelong devoted Catholic, and a member of the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton.

She loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, picking berries and baking cinnamon rolls, which she enjoyed sharing with everyone.

Annette was an active member of the Dollar Bay First Responders, which she worked tirelessly with.

Preceding her in death were her husband; her parents; her brothers, Miles, Edward and Roger Sirard; her sister, Emmy Roy; her sister-in-law, Barbara VanUum; and her brother-in-law, Paul Roy.

Surviving are her children, Brady (Polly) Schaefer of L’Anse, and Lorie (Scott) Robinette of Adrian; her grandchildren, Eli Schaefer, Milo Schaefer, and Celsey Robinette; her brothers, Al (Barb) Sirard of L’Anse, Joe (Betty) Sirard of Bruce Crossing, and Jerry (Mary) Sirard of L’Anse; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Annette will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton with Fr. John Martignon to officiate.

Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.

Friends may call on Friday, September 14, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton, where a parish Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Annette’s family would like to thank Shelly Gunther for her friendship, help and care during this difficult time.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests that memorials be given to the Omega House in Houghton or the Dollar Bay First Responders.

To view Annette’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes are assisting the family with the arrangements.