Emma Evelyn Potter Schaaf, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Eaton Community Palliative Care’s Kaiser House. She was 93. Emma was born on April 11, 1922 to parents Samuel Jacob and Beulah Ann (Bourne) Gonyer in Fife Lake, MI. At the young age of 11, Emma and her family moved from Fife Lake to the Manton area. On January 28, 1939 Emma entered into marriage with Gearold Potter in Manton. They made their home in Lansing for a number of years, where Emma was employed by Sparrow Hospital and the couple were an active part of the South Lansing Church of Christ. Emma returned to Manton in 1977 and began attending both the Rollins Church and the McBain Christian Reformed Church on opposite weeks. Following Gearold’s passing in 1992, Emma married Neal Schaaf on November 2, 1996 in Manton, MI, whom also preceded her in death in 2010. Emma is survived by a loving family, her son, Roger (Cleora) Potter of Missouri; two daughters, Gearoldine (Thomas) Bishop and Christine (Julian) Kobylinski, all of Lansing; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two step sons, Corwin (Cathy) Schaaf and Keith (Karen) Schaaf; two stepdaughters, Janice (Carl) VanderMeulen and Carol (Ron) Beerens; as well as many other loving family members and friends. Emma was preceded in death by her two husbands, Gearold and Neal, six sisters and three brothers, Juna Bartholomew, Leah Lewis, Reo Gonyer, Gertrude Doyle, Ruby Schaaf, Louis Gonyer, Beatrice Moore, Leona Stillwell, and LaVerne Gonyer. Visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2015 from 2 pm until 4 pm and from 6 pm until 8 pm at the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home in Manton. Funeral services will take place at 11 am on Wednesday, October 21st at Rollins Christian Fellowship with Rev. Bart Glupker officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Rollins Christian Fellowship.
