Connie Joyce (Carrothers) Wagenschutz

Connie Joyce Carrothers Wagenschutz was born on October 3, 1929 in Detroit Michigan.  She was raised an only child during the depression years where she grew up in a farm house on Eight Mile Road in Livonia, MI.

Connie attended Clarenceville schools in Redford.  She recounted that the school was located near Botsford Inn, where "Mr. Henry Ford provided square and reel dance lessons for the elementary grades, free of charge, for several years ... the class would walk to Botsford Inn and the lessons were held in the ballroom to  live music."

After graduating high school, Connie attended Michigan State Normal College (aka Eastern Michigan University) where she attained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951.  She and Chuck Wagenschutz were married shortly afterwards and made their home in Livonia.  Connie went on to receive her teaching certificate.  She taught at Cooper Elementary for several years before starting a family.  Her life then became centered around family, homemaking, enjoying the arts and contributing time and energy to community organizations.

For many years her and Chuck's interests revolved around historical restoration and early colonial crafts such as weaving and spinning, knitting, candle making, etc.  She instilled her love for God, gardening, sewing, genealogy, music and homemaking into her children and grandchildren.  When Chuck retired from the Livonia Fire Department they moved to Suttons Bay in 1984 and continued their interests by restoring an old farmhouse where they lived for 7 years before moving to a condo in Traverse City.  After Chuck died, she returned to her roots by moving back to Livonia, where her health gradually declined due to dementia and heart disease.  During the last 4 years of her life she was happy to be able to alternately live with her 2 daughters in Westland and Interlochen.  

On September 15, 2020 Connie slipped into the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be reunited with her husband Chuck, her parents Andy and Nellie, her baby sister Betty Lou and all the saints that had gone before her.  What a glorious day !

Connie is survived by daughters Suzanne Wagenschutz (David Anderson) and Ellen Nixon (Robert Nixon); grandchildren Jerilynn Nixon, Aaron Rajala, Moriah Nixon-Boyd (Lee Boyd) and 6 great-grandchildren.  

Information on a memorial service will be forthcoming.