Announcements, Features, Obituaries

Jeanne Louise Serviss

Jeanne Louise Serviss, age 79, passed away on April 2, 2022

Jeanne Louise Serviss was born February 14, 1943 in Little Britain, New York to Robert and Louise Finley. Jeanne spent her childhood years growing up on the family farm with her sister Elizabeth in New York enjoying many hobbies and was active in 4-h as well as the Little Britain Grange and spending time with her family & friends.

She married Paul Bundschu in her early 20s and started her family. First Paul Jr then 4 years later, Christy then Betsy to complete her family. She moved from New York early in her marriage to start a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and then later moved to St. Johns Michigan raising sheep and her children. She divorced Paul shortly after Betsy was born and later met the loveof her life Bob Serviss at a snowmobile race in Ovid Michigan introduced (actually set up) by her friends and neighbors Dave and Diane Hill. Bob quickly embraced this instant family and they were married and moved to the family farm in the early 70s where they raised peppermint as well as spearmint, many farm related crops and started the dairy farm Cedar Lawn Vu which was the foundation for many champion Holsteins & Jerseys as well as winning top awards in milk production and quality. Cedar Lawn Vu was also the very first pipeline dairy in the state of Michigan put in by De Laval.

Bob and Jeanne were both very active in their communities and raised the kids with agriculture in the forefront. Jeanne was well known for her amazing ability to cook and loved large family gatherings where the whole family would come to the farm for holidays and family dinners-and so enjoyed visits from her grandson Josh who spent a lot of time & summers on the family farm. Jeanne was a pioneer as a female in the Holstein industry paving the way for a lot of women in agriculture including her daughters and later her granddaughter. She was known by many in the industry being involved in export, livestock sales and later in career large CAFO operations. Jeanne loved dairy shows and most definitely the World Dairy Expo. She had “her spot” at the rail and everyone knew where to find her during the show. After her husband passed away in 1994 her daughters continued with the dairy until relocating to Idaho where she continued to dairy arm for several years. In Idaho she continued the tradition of keeping the family involved in ag and was involved with the Idaho Holstein Assn and was named Idaho Woman of the Year. At many shows and fairs you would see Jeanne cooking for any- one who stopped by and there was always enough for one more. Jeanne loved spending many days “grandma sitting” and as her granddaughter Rose grew enjoyed watching her love for farm life grow and was most proud of her. Grammy was loved by many but Rose was at the top of the list. She tried to be at every event whether it was a soccer game in the rain or one of the many livestock shows Rose competed in grandma was there. Jeanne began dividing her time between Idaho and Texas where Betsy had relocated for a position at Dell and officially moved there a few years ago to enjoy the warmer weather. There she enjoyed canning, gardening, visits from family, reading and trying one of the many recipes she saw on the Pioneer Woman for whom she was an obsessed fan. There are so many blanks to fill in on a life so fully well lived.

Jeanne loved her family very much. She was a “mom and grandma” to so many touching many lives. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother as well as great grandmother. Her daughters Christy and Betsy & granddaughter Rose would like to thank St Davids Round Rock Nursing staff and a special thanks to her niece Teresa as well as family friends Riki and Susan for surrounding mom with love as we all said goodbye. At her wishes there will be no funeral. There will be a celebration of life Saturday September 10, 2022 at Hoovers Corners in Carland, MI from 1-3 pm. The family looks forward to seeing friends and family there.