Mrs. Julia M. Schaner, age 79, of Hart died Monday August 11, 2008. She was born on March 6, 1929 at home in Weare Township to Justin and Johanna (Bakan) Balavitch. On June 6, 1948, she married Les Schaner at St. Joseph Catholic Church-Weare. Mrs. Schaner attended St. Joseph Catholic Parish School until the 8th grade, then attended Hart Public Schools and was a member of the Class of 1947 graduating from Hart High School. Julia continued to further her education and had attended the cosmetology school at Muskegon. Mrs. Schaner was born and the early part of her life was during the great depression era. Her mother had died when she was 11 years of age. Julia was the youngest of eight children, a family of five boys and three girls. Being without her mother was tough and she had a lot of responsibility. Julia was an honor student in the Hart High School class of 1947. A girl friend of Julia's, Bess Wickes and her husband, Norwood Wickes, introduced her to Les. They started dating and fell in love. After they married they lived in rural Hart and then moved into the city on Courtland St. in March of 1959. She and Les raised their children there. Not only was she a wife, mother and homemaker, but as Les was the owner of Schaner Oil Company, she was his bookkeeper, answering service and door bell person. Julia was a great cook, baker and seamstress. She enjoyed baking wedding cakes. She also worked with Paul Tate at the funeral home. Julia was an excellent gardener and was a wonderful caregiver. While the children were growing up, they had a pool and now it comes out that intense partying occurred when Mom and Dad were gone. She taught her children how to cook, respect others, and made them all take piano lessons. Around 1994, she started to lose her memory and she went to Mayo. It was discovered that she had dementia, one of the most serious types. She suffered for thirteen long years, and the family is grateful that her suffering has ended and that she is home with her Lord and Savior. Julia is survived by her husband of 60 years, Les of Hart; their children, Lester "Buster" Schaner, Jr. of Hart, Jane (Dr. Mike) Burcon of Comstock Park, MI, Louise Schaner of Kalamazoo, MI, Charles L. "Chas" (Marcia) Schaner of Caledonia, MI, Johanna (Wayne) Jehnsen of Lansing, MI and Kathleen (Mike) Tietz of Caledonia, MI; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Jehnsen, Eric Jehnsen, Michael Schaner, Carolyn Schaner, Tara Bush, Nicole Bush, Jennifer Bush and Julia Elaine Tietz; her sister in law, Mrs. Marie Herrygers; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters. The Mass of Resurrection for Mrs. Schaner will be offered Thursday, August 14, 2008 at Twelve O'clock Noon from St. Joseph Catholic Church-Weare with Fr. Donald Webber presiding. Interment will be in the Hart Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Tate-King Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be given to Heartland Hospice of Grand Rapids.