Obituary of Leanne Lichty Schoenherr

Leanne Schoenherr, 76, passed away on February 27, 2024, in the care of UNC Hospice Home. She departed peacefully in the presence of her oldest daughter Anna after one week in the constant presence of loving caregivers including her children, grandchildren, friends, and the doctors, nurses, and staff of UNC Hospice Home. 

She was born Lee Ann Lichty in Sturgis, Michigan on September 7th, 1947 to Nadyne and John Jay Lichty. She once described her childhood in Sturgis as “the best childhood anyone could ever have.” Along with her older brother John and younger sister Mary, she enjoyed the pleasures of small-town life—walking to and from school, roaming about town with friends, and playing until it was time to come home for dinner. As a teenager, she starred in Sturgis High School’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank, served on student council and the homecoming and prom courts, and wrote editorials for the school newspaper, the Trojan Times. When the youngest Lichty, Jeff, was born with cleft palate, Leanne helped Nadyne by becoming a devoted caregiver to her little brother. Jeff’s death at 18-months old was devastating for the entire family and deeply impacted Leanne. 

In college, Lee Ann changed her name to Leanne after a mixup that initially assigned her to a boy’s dorm. At Michigan State University she majored in Elementary Education and minored in English. There, she met her future husband, Thomas Van Dis. Leanne graduated in 1969 and married Tom the same year. Together they had two children, oldest daughter Anna in 1973 and four years later, Katie. During this time, and following her divorce from Tom, Leanne worked as an elementary school teacher. She had a special gift for working with young children and was beloved by many of the children and families she worked with. At one point, she taught two kindergarten classes of 35 children each while caring for her two girls at home. Still, her love for the work and the children she served was evident to everyone who knew her. Though it wasn’t easy being a single working mother, Leanne developed many lifelong friendships during this time and was grateful for the childcare and emotional support offered by her parents. 

In 1980, Leanne reconnected with Robert Schoenherr, a former Sturgis sweetheart who’d once been caught by John and Nadyne attempting to climb up to Leanne’s bedroom window. Leanne and Bob married in 1982. With Katie and Anna, they relocated to northern California where their son Jay William was born. Leanne enjoyed life as a stay-at-home mom while Jay was a baby, but volunteered for organizations close to her heart, like Beyond War and The Democratic Party. As her children got older, she continued volunteering and especially loved donating her time to South Bend’s Center for the Homeless. She also continued to work as a teacher, eventually earning her graduate degree in Teaching Special Education and becoming certified in Reading Recovery.

With her family, Leanne moved back and forth across the country several times—living in Michigan, northern California, southern California, and Indiana. She was most at home in the midwest, where she could be close to her parents, though she was quite happy for many years in North Carolina, where she relocated in 2011 to help care for her grandchildren and be closer to her three children who had also relocated there. 

Leanne put her teaching skills and graduate degree to use not only in the classroom, but also over many years of instilling a love for reading in her five grandchildren: Una (17), Cole (13), Judah (11), Dean (9), and Ada (9). Known to them as “Grammy Lee” and “Edie,” her grandchildren could always count on her for an excellent bedtime story (The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was a favorite) or song (something by the Beatles or from The Sound of Music). She took enormous pride in her grandchildren, loved babysitting them, and excelled at finding them meaningful gifts and sweet treats.

Wherever Leanne lived, she was popular and made friends easily. She made an effort to see the silver lining in difficult situations, always rooted for the underdog, and couldn’t stand for anyone to feel left out. She was compassionate, generous with her time and belongings, and loved to laugh, even if it was at herself. Her joy in singing and dancing was infectious, and she passed this love on to her children and grandchildren. She was happiest with her family, especially if she was singing along as Jay played guitar or belting out a Neil Diamond song with her grandkids. Though her final months living with dementia were difficult, it was still possible to see the sparks of joy and the love of people that characterized her whole life. 

Leanne is survived by her children, Anna Christine Van Dis, Katherine Elizabeth Van Dis (David Ormand Moore), and Jay William Schoenherr (Sarah Ashley Schoenherr); her grandchildren Una Katherine Jones, Cole Anderson Moore, Judah Stone Schoenherr, Dean Maxwell Moore, and Ada May Schoenherr; and her siblings, Mary Gebhardt (Dave Gebhardt) and John Robert Lichty. She is preceded in death by her mother, Nadyne Lichty; her father, John Jay Lichty, and her brother, Jeff Lichty.  

A Celebration of Life in Leanne’s honor will be held on March 22, 2024, at 11 AM at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts in Sturgis, Michigan (201 N. Notawwa St., Sturgis, MI). A short cemetery service will follow (Oaklawn Cemetery). 

Donations can be made to the World Wildlife Fund or UNC Hospice Home in Leanne's honor.