Diane “Lynne” Cheeseman
January 15th, 1942 - March 1st, 2025
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Lynne's Obituary
Diane Lynne Cheeseman, 83, died March 1, 2025 at Hanson Hospice Center of glioblastoma. Lynne was born January 15, 1942 to Herman D. and Miriam (Dexheimer) Ellis, in Coldwater, Michigan. After moving to St. Ignace when her father became official photographer of the Mackinac Bridge, she graduated with honors from Michigan State in 1963 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and was named one of the “Top 50 Women” in her class. She taught elementary art while earning MA and MFA degrees in 1967 and 1968. After marrying George Cheeseman in 1963 and moving to South Haven in 1969, Lynne continued pursuing her own art and taught more than 25 years at Glenn and St. Basil schools.
She approached her painting as she encouraged her students to, seriously, but unafraid to “mess up” and fix a problem or start over. Her largely abstract painting joined sophisticated composition with a sense of playfulness, movement, and freedom in color. Living most of her life next to Lake Michigan, Lynne titled her 2012 retrospective at the South Haven Center for the Arts “Waterworks.” Water—full of life, change, and beauty—was a regular theme in her work. Acknowledging good in the world, including the daily grandeur of South Haven’s shoreline, was a personal practice and a valuable discipline shared with her family.
Serving her community was also important. Advocating for smart growth and open views of the harbor, Lynne served two stints as chair of the planning commission and on the zoning board of appeals. During her more than 50-year membership with the South Haven Center for the Arts, she served multiple board terms and, in 2019, she was awarded a lifetime membership by AAUW. Additionally, Lynne was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi, a director of the South Haven Performance Series, and actively involved in the South Haven Garden Club and various church committees.
While she worked hard to afford “every girl’s dream” of horse ownership, Lynne wished for more athletic opportunities in her youth. She nonetheless became an avid sports fan and later in life was proudly one of the oldest members of her yoga classes. She also found joy in time outdoors and travel with good friends and husband, George.
Lynne is survived by daughters Marcy Cheeseman (Michael Nelson) and Andrea Cheeseman (Bryan Reese), sister Marcia (Jack) Fry, nieces Alison Senkevitch and Lauren Fry, German daughter Claudia Scharfenberg, and Swedish sister Marianne Hamilton. She was preceded in death by her husband. Open-minded, optimistic, and keenly insightful, she will be deeply missed.
Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in South Haven, 429 Michigan Ave, on Saturday, March 29, with Visitation at 1 pm, Memorial Service at 2 pm. Interment will be at Gros Cap Cemetery in St. Ignace, Michigan.
Memorials in Lynne’s name may be directed to the South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090, or to the First United Methodist Church in South Haven.
To those who choose to leave a memory or condolence please visit; www.starksfamilyfh.com Arrangements are entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Phone: 269-637-0333.
She approached her painting as she encouraged her students to, seriously, but unafraid to “mess up” and fix a problem or start over. Her largely abstract painting joined sophisticated composition with a sense of playfulness, movement, and freedom in color. Living most of her life next to Lake Michigan, Lynne titled her 2012 retrospective at the South Haven Center for the Arts “Waterworks.” Water—full of life, change, and beauty—was a regular theme in her work. Acknowledging good in the world, including the daily grandeur of South Haven’s shoreline, was a personal practice and a valuable discipline shared with her family.
Serving her community was also important. Advocating for smart growth and open views of the harbor, Lynne served two stints as chair of the planning commission and on the zoning board of appeals. During her more than 50-year membership with the South Haven Center for the Arts, she served multiple board terms and, in 2019, she was awarded a lifetime membership by AAUW. Additionally, Lynne was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi, a director of the South Haven Performance Series, and actively involved in the South Haven Garden Club and various church committees.
While she worked hard to afford “every girl’s dream” of horse ownership, Lynne wished for more athletic opportunities in her youth. She nonetheless became an avid sports fan and later in life was proudly one of the oldest members of her yoga classes. She also found joy in time outdoors and travel with good friends and husband, George.
Lynne is survived by daughters Marcy Cheeseman (Michael Nelson) and Andrea Cheeseman (Bryan Reese), sister Marcia (Jack) Fry, nieces Alison Senkevitch and Lauren Fry, German daughter Claudia Scharfenberg, and Swedish sister Marianne Hamilton. She was preceded in death by her husband. Open-minded, optimistic, and keenly insightful, she will be deeply missed.
Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in South Haven, 429 Michigan Ave, on Saturday, March 29, with Visitation at 1 pm, Memorial Service at 2 pm. Interment will be at Gros Cap Cemetery in St. Ignace, Michigan.
Memorials in Lynne’s name may be directed to the South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090, or to the First United Methodist Church in South Haven.
To those who choose to leave a memory or condolence please visit; www.starksfamilyfh.com Arrangements are entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Phone: 269-637-0333.
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