Marijane Schaefer Coale

Marijane “Mimi” Schaefer Coale, 91 of Harbor Springs, passed away Friday, March 31, 2023, at The Birches, at Perry Farm Village in Harbor Springs.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 24, 1931, she was the daughter of Theron and Ruth (Euridge) Goodspeed.  She grew up in Lajolla, California and graduated high school from The Bishops school. After high school, Mimi continued her education at Wellsley College earning a bachelor’s degree in art history.  Shortly thereafter, she met and wed Frederick A Schaefer Jr., moved back to Grand Rapids and started their family.  With her strong Christian faith, she went on later in life to receive a degree in theological studies.

Mimi lived in a variety of places in her lifetime: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Georgetown, DC and Incline Village, Nevada before moving back to Grand Rapids and later Harbor Springs.

It is in Grand Rapids where she met Edward Coale, who she always said was the love of her life.  They married in 1998 and spent much of their sixteen years together skiing, hosting family gatherings and traveling the globe.  They spent their winters in Boca Grande, Florida gathering with their friends and soaking up the sun.

With her passion for South American cultures and people, Mimi started an import company called Andean Traditions.  She traveled the US sharing the treasures of the South American cultures. Mimi was also an integral part of the group, Women of Our Hemisphere Achieving Together.  An organization which assisted women from Central America and the Dominican Republic.

In her spare time, she enjoyed skiing, tennis, Bridge, gardening, cooking and especially travel.  Mimi loved to travel and experience the different cuisines of the world.  She attended La Varenne cooking school in Paris, with her daughter Ruth.  She went on to form a cooking group called “Bonne Douzienne” which experimented with making different recipes from around the world.

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Mimi is survived by her three children, Frederick A Schaefer III of Hopkins, MN, Andrew Schaefer of Petoskey, and Ruth Schaefer of Arvada, CO.  She is also survived by many grandchildren, Frederick A. Schaefer IV, Henry Schaefer, Lucy Schaefer, Taylor Schaefer, Logan Schaefer and Forest Schaefer.

In keeping with her wishes, no services are planned and her family will

remember her privately.