Michelle Tracy (Niswander) Rinehart

Our loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend went to be with The Lord Jesus, surrounded by family at her home on May 1, 2023.  Born November 10, 1971 in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Michelle graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University.  She later earned her LPN degree from Jackson Community College and was a dedicated and compassionate nurse for over 15 years. 

Michelle was also an accomplished cellist and attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and toured Europe playing in several countries, including France, Belgium, and Denmark.  She traveled to England alone at 11 years old in order to spend the summer with her sister, who was stationed there.  That began a life-long love of traveling.  She traveled to many interesting locations throughout the United States and Europe with her family, and especially enjoyed trips to Switzerland to visit her niece, as well as Germany and France.  She loved her family, scrapbooking, and hosting foreign exchange students in her home.  She and Tim hosted a total of 10 students over the years, and became a second family to them and their parents.  She loved Volkswagen Beetles, especially red, and owned several of them over the years.  Her favorite band was the Beatles, and she loved Beatles memorabilia.  She recently realized a lifelong dream of seeing Paul McCartney live in Knoxville, TN.  Michelle also loved animals, and could never see one in need without helping them somehow (usually making room in their home for one more.) She was especially fond of her golden retriever, Marlie, but also loved her dog Finley and her cats, Gary, Kitten, Pumpernickel, Mittens, Benjamin and Gertrude.  Her daughter, Sofia described her this way: ‘Mom has made a great mark in this family and to so many other people.’   No truer words could be spoken about her.

Surviving are her loving husband of 26 years, Timothy Rinehart; their son and daughter-in-law, Ethan and Riley Rinehart; daughter Sofia Rinehart; father, William Niswander; sisters Carolyn (Jerry) Wood and Vicky (Chuck) Sandberg; nieces Heather Wood, Jade Heggli, Crystal Silvas, Ashley Strickland, nephews Ronnie Tate, Keith Tate, Jerry Wood, Charlie Sandberg, and special friend, Nerissa Nunley.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ellis; sister, Valerie Butcher, and niece, Talija Wood.

The celebration of Michelle’s life will be at 11:00 AM Friday, May 5, 2023 at Watson Funeral Chapel, 2590 Spring Arbor Rd, Jackson, MI with Chaplain Kyle R. Herrick officiating.  Interment will follow at Spring Arbor Twp. Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday at the Funeral Chapel.

Contributions may be made to the Henry Ford Hospice in memory of Michelle.  Please express your condolences to the family at www.watson-funeral-chapels.com.

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