Jane E. Chappell

Age 76, passed away early Tuesday morning, October 19, 2021. Jane was born in Kalamazoo on November 30, 1944, the daughter of Clair E. and Marguerite (Steere) Chappell. Jane was a graduate of Portage Central High School and earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Western Michigan University. She had a distinguished career as a teacher. Her first job was as a teacher in Worms, Germany. She then transferred to Ramstein Air Force Base where she taught for the government for ten years. She returned to the United States and taught in Spring, TX for five years. She later returned to Kalamazoo where she taught in the Kalamazoo Public School System, working in the latter part of her career at Woods Lake Elementary. Jane was an avid genealogist. She researched and found Pilgrim ancestors and 14 Revolutionary ancestors. She was a member of the Kalamazoo Genealogy Society, the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, and a former member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War. She enjoyed traveling and had been to many European countries as well as Egypt, and throughout the United States. Jane is survived by her sister, Nancy (Jack) Koole of Kalamazoo; nephews, John (Sharon) Koole of Kalamazoo and Jerry (Connie) Koole of Tennessee; great-nephews, Daryl, Jason and Gavin; great-nieces, Racheal and Makayla; and countless friends.