Deborah Schruers

Deborah Ann Schruers (nee Schettle) went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, August 11, 2016, after a long, iron-willed battle against breast cancer. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, her dear friends, and with her devoted dog Eva at her side.

Debbie was born on November 2, 1945, in Chicago, IL to Frank Schettle and Henrietta Schettle, and was raised in River Grove, IL on land that had been her grandfather Schettle's farm. She graduated from Lake Park High School in Medinah, IL on June 14, 1963. Debbie would meet her future husband Don Schruers in 1962 while they were both employed at Roselle Airfield in Roselle, IL. They were married on June 15, 1963, honeymooned at Gettysburg, PA, and spent the rest of the summer living at the Neal Manross home on Edinboro Lake. That fall, they moved to Longmont, CO to attend Rockmont Bible College. Don would be hired by IBM in 1964; his new job would take them first to the Cleveland, OH area, where they started their family, and subsequently to Meadville, PA.

In Meadville, Debbie enrolled in the nursing program at Crawford County Vocational Technical School and graduated with her LPN. She went to work for the Wesbury Retirement Community in Meadville, and was then hired by the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit. She served as the School Nurse at Race Street School for Exceptional Children in Meadville, where she was completely devoted to working with special needs children.

In 1980, Debbie and Don moved their family to the Schruers family farm in Edinboro, PA. Unable to continue her nursing career due to a back injury, she found employment as the church secretary at Edinboro Presbyterian Church, a position she held for many years. Beginning in the early 1990s, health problems led to Debbie spending most of her time at home, focusing on her interests: reading, her pets, gardening, and visiting with her many friends and family . One of her great pleasures was beautifying her home, which included her love for mowing the lawn until it looked like a putting green.

Debbie took great pride in the accomplishments of her children: her daughter Micahe has worked for many years at the international headquarters of Mars, Inc., in Mclean, VA; her son Eric received his Ph.D. in Art History and has taught and lectured at universities and museums around the country. In 2010, Don and Debbie were blessed with the birth of their granddaughter Sophia. Debbie would devote the last six years of her life to helping care for and raise Sophie, whom she regarded as the light of her life. Debbie's love for her granddaughter gave her the will to push on through her pain up to her last moments.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Donald H. Schruers; daughter Micahe Schruers Lee and her husband Howard; son Dr. Eric Jon Schruers, his wife Lisa, and their daughter Sophia; sister Barbara J. Franz and her husband Wilburn; nephew Lt. Col. David M. Franz and his wife Dana; and niece Dr. Kathleen G. Franz and her husband Brendan Danaher.

The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Friends may call at the McLane Church, 12511 Edinboro Rd., Edinboro, PA on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held there on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

Burial will follow in Edinboro Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Draketown Christian Church, 12460 Draketown Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412, the McLane Church, or a charity of your choice.