Jean Naomi (Lenner) Schwabe

Did anyone notice a Disturbance in the Force last Thursday at 9:30 in the morning? Because at that moment, in our little world, Jean Schwabe left it.

Born Jean Naomi Lenner, April 8, 1924 to Deane and Jean Lenner of Akron, she was the youngest of the intrepid Lenner sisters. They spent many of their youthful summer days playing on the family farm in Tiffin, Ohio. As adults the sisters went on a world trip together.

Jean attended King School in Akron, graduated from West High in 1941, and Kent State University with a Bachelor degree in Art Education in 1945. As a freshman she was chosen by Art Department head Elmer Novotny as the model for his life size oil painting "The Co-Ed". After the war she married Richard "Dick" F. Schwabe in 1946, a marriage that would last 65 years, and began raising a family in Cuyahoga Falls.

Jean was an original. Ahead of her time, she was a feminist, an outspoken liberal, an artist and a business woman. Jean rented out the fellowship hall at the Cuyahoga Falls Church of God for weekdays of the school year. She purchased supplies and equipment, including a full size jungle-gym, and began what would become the legendary Jean Schwabe Kindergarten. Jean would walk the half mile (with her little son) to and from the rented church space, and every Friday move all the equipment, including the jungle-gym, out of the room and into the hallway under the stairwell - and every Sunday night move it all back in time for her students on Monday, who were never the wiser. Later, in her newly constructed home basement - built to code and accredited (with its own furnace) - her school became J. Schwabe Pre-School. Altogether she continued her school for 43 years and influenced many, many young lives. In the early years she also ran her own art classes from a rented upstairs building on Front St. in the Falls.

Jean was always a progressive champion of social issues and probably had more Akron Beacon Journal letters-to-the-editor published than any other local citizen. She was also featured in a number of Beacon articles including coverage of her school activities and, years later, her retirement, in addition to a spread on her astounding indoor Christmas displays and collection.

She was active at Grace Church in Akron for 40 years as a pretty far-out Sunday school teacher and (without much prodding) social activities coordinator of many church gatherings.

Her outgoing personality and creative abilities often culminated in Happenings, Pageants, Dance Shows, Costumed Reenactments and theme parties with her friends and family - costumed Thanksgiving dinners (we're talking Indians and Pilgrims) or A Christmas Carol mini-play with top hats, tailed jackets, high collar shirts and gowns gathered from area thrift stores. A typical family photo could morph into a Jean family image as she would first pass out props, such as large plastic glasses, fuzzy eyebrows, mustaches and black fedoras, before her creation was complete.

Jean, as crazy and creative as she was, always maintained a profound sense of social justice and concern for social and economic inequality: participating in the March on Washington over the plight of the homeless in the '80's, donating 20 backpacks outfitted with blankets, socks and toiletries to a local homeless organization, providing for a well to be dug in an African village, and most recently leaving a legacy fund to help address the plight of endangered elephants. For Jean's were concerns not just for her fellow humans but for the rights and well-being of all animals of our Earth and the healthfulness and care of the very planet itself. From a Sunday School lesson she had written years ago, Jean asked "...we have been appointed stewards….stewards of the world to care for our habitat and all of its creatures. Are we good stewards?"

Jean was one of the best.

Jean Naomi Schwabe, 93, of Cuyahoga Falls, died Thursday, March 22, 2018. She was preceded in death by husband Richard "Dick" Frank Schwabe, and sister Maxine Horning. She is survived by her sons Ric Schwabe (Jan) of Kent, Dan Schwabe (Eleanor) of Auburn, CA and John Schwabe (Mary Jean) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughter, Jennifer Ramsey (Jim) of Columbus; sister, Helene Lane of Roswell, GA; 6 grandchildren: Liesl, Paul, Chris, Megan, Sara and Chelsea; 5 great grandchildren: Pico, Edie, Trent, Celia and Olivia; and dear friends Sherrie and Sue.

The family wishes to thank Clearpath Hospice and Mulberry Gardens Memory Care for their outstanding care and loving attention given to Jean in her final days.

Cremation has taken place, and a family gathering will occur at a later date. Interment will take place at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, using a biodegradable urn, where she will be joined with Dick, the love of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given either to Death with Dignity, or World Wildlife Fund, per Jean's wishes. Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.BisslerandSons.com. Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory are handling the arrangements.