Jeannine Slavicek

Loving, compassionate, caring, and strong willed were just a few words to describe Jeannine Slavicek. She loved her family more than anything, but her husband Ladd was her number one. She had a deep faith that got her through tough times, especially after Ladd’s passing. Jeannine was a great  storyteller, and she had a wonderful  memory to recall events from her past.

The world changed throughout the 1930s, the majority of which was still under the shadow of the Great Depression. One positive event of the time included was the completion of the Hoover Dam and the novel Gone With The Wind was first published. Another much awaited event was the joy of Maurice E. "Scotty" and Evelyn June (Fernwalt) Swank as they welcomed their new daughter, Jeannine June Swank on August 2, 1936 in Niles, Michigan.  A brother followed soon after.

Moving around was not uncommon for Jeannine when she was younger. Her family had moved from Niles to Baroda and she attended Kindergarten while living Mishawaka before moving back to Michigan in Saint Joseph. Jeannine spent her grade school years at Trinity Lutheran School and went to Saint Joseph High School. Jeanine used to scare her brother when they walked together through the ravine on their way home. In junior and high school. It was during her time in jr and high school mom met and became friends with “her girls of 54” who remain friends to this day. One of Jeannine’s good friend’s was Jennie Slavicek and she had a brother named Ladd and they seemed to notice one another  / therefore Jennie was a catalyst!

By the time Jeannine had graduated in 1954, the two had gone their separate ways as Ladd served in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War and Jeannine went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan

After starting a job with Whirlpool as a switch board operator, Jeannine took a position as a private secretary for the Chairman of Whirlpool. As fate would have it, Ladd reappeared in Jeannine’s life and the two began seeing each other, Ladd asked Jeannine to marry him and on March 26, 1966, Jeannine married Laddie Slavicek at St. Joseph Trinity Lutheran Church. They went on to purchase a farm and moved to Baroda, Michigan and in 1984, they sold their farm and moved to Bremen, Indiana for Ladd's work.

Along with being a farm wife and mother, Jeannine kept busy by making jewelry, stainless and ceramics. From the fruits and vegetables they grew, she canned and preserved the produced for their family to enjoy year round and she enjoyed sewing. As her children were getting into their teenage years, she became a realtor and retired in 1998 from Quinn and Associates in Bremen. After retiring, Jeannie and Ladd enjoyed spending their winter months in the warmth of Naples, Florida for nearly 20 years where she had been active with the Red Hat Society there.

Jeannine enjoyed being at the beach, traveling and even took one long trip with Ladd driving out West visiting family, friends, and sightseeing. They truly got to enjoy their retirement years together. In 2003, they also moved from Bremen to Columbia City where their son and his family lived. Jeannine was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Columbia City. After graduating over 68 years ago, Jeannine still loved catching up with those lifelong friendships she formed from school, “the Girls of 54”.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, Jeannine Slavicek passed away peacefully at her home while reading her daily devotions with her daughter. She was 86 years old. Jeannine is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lorinda and Kevin Anderson of Stevensville, Michigan; son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Michelle Slavicek of Columbia City, Indiana; four grandchildren, Chelsea Anderson, Paige (Trace) Frandsen, Connor Slavicek and Kennedy (Gary) Ormsby; great-granddaughter, Clementine; brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Marie Swank; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jennie and Richard Plawecki.

Per Jeannine’s wishes and those of the family, there will be no formal memorial services for Jeannine.

Memorial donations may be given in memory to Indiana State Library's Talking Book & Braille Library for the audio books that Jeannine enjoyed listening to when her eye sight started to fade. Donations may be mailed to DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City, Indiana  46725. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Jeannine's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.