Mary Jill Schwartz, known to her friends as "Just Jill", passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Ascension All Saints Hospital, in Racine, Wisconsin.  She was born June 30 ^th , 1953 at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Elmer Henry and Eula Merry Young.

Jill grew up in Cape Girardeau, where she lived with her parents and two sisters, Carol Louise and Beverly Ann. The family moved to Metropolis, Illinois in 1958, following their father's employment with IGA Food Stores. Jill graduated from Metropolis Community High school in 1971, and furthered her education at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin where she received a Bachelor's Degree in speech communication and theater arts in 1976 and a Master's of Education in 1989. After graduating from Carthage with her bachelor's degree, Jill was employed at Eaton Corporation and Snap-On Tools. Upon achieving her Master's of Education, she was employed with Racine Unified School District, retiring as an English teacher, specializing in William Shakespeare studies and holding the position as department chair at J. I. Case High School. Never one to shun work, Jill travelled extensively, pursuing her love of everything Shakespeare, all the while teaching at various academic positions in the Kenosha/Racine area.

Jill married Donald Dean Schwartz in October, 1980 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Metropolis, Illinois, where they celebrated by surrounding themselves with lifelong college and work friends.  They moved to Racine, where Jill pursued her teaching career. She and Don were happily married for 40 years until he passed away in 2021. Jill was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Teacher's Society and a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Racine, Wisconsin. Here she was active in numerous events and celebrations in the church, becoming locally famous for her culinary feats, especially her cheesecake. She was also an active animal rescue advocate and was responsible for rescue placement throughout the United States.

Jill was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, Eula and Elmer, and her older sister, Carol. She is survived by her older sister Beverly Ann (Becky) Speckman of Harker Heights, Texas.

The family would like to thank Ascension All-Saints Hospital, Rachel Peña and Ryan Chadek for their kindness and compassion during Jill's illnesses.

Service Details

A memorial service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St., Racine, WI at 12:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The family will be greeting friends and relatives at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the beginning of the memorial service. Private burial service will be at North Bristol Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial Suggestions

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection or any animal rescue organization. Condolences may be left on Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory online guest book at www.draeger-langendorf.com