Marian Teter

Published 11:20 am Friday, February 7, 2025

June 3, 1939 – January 25, 2025

Marian Louise (Ishamel) Teter June 3, 1939 – January 25, 2025 EDWARDSBURG MI

Marian L. Teter was born June 3, 1939 in Coloma, MI and entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Marian was the second born of four children to her now deceased parents, Walter Hovey Ishmael, and Adeline Louise (Messal) Ishmael. Marian was born and briefly raised in Coloma, MI, before moving to her childhood home in Watervilet, MI. She was incredibly intelligent, loved school, and graduated from Watervilet High School in 1957 with honors as the “outstanding girl” (valedictorian) of her class. Marian married the love of her life, Jack L. Teter Sr., on November 4, 1961. Jack and Marian were married for nearly 54 years. The love Jack and Marian shared was immeasurable and evident to everyone around them. Jack, the ever devoted husband, often credited God and Marian’s love, for changing his life.

After several relocations due to Jack’s promotions and career, Marian and Jack made their home in Edwardsburg, MI. Where they raised her most valued legacy… her six children, eighteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Marian only knew how to love with her whole heart; she was always smiling with a twinkle in her eye, and was happiest when her whole family surrounded her on the family farm. Marian took after her mother by welcoming everyone to her home. She was “Mom Teter” to all of her children’s friends. Marian loved and embraced her many nieces and nephews as her own and let many stay for summer visits creating treasured memories at Aunt Marian and Uncle Jack’s. Marian and Jack hosted many epic gatherings like family celebrations, reunions, and get-togethers for school events. The gatherings included Marian’s wonderful home cooked meals, her favorite horse and buggy, or hay rides by Jack, as well as lots of music and laughter around campfires. On Teter Misty Acres (TMA), Marian and Jack raised registered quarter horses, registered hereford show cattle, and later expanded to include various exotic birds and animals. Marian also loved to travel with Jack and the family, and treasured making memories together during their annual family “Teter Takeover” vacations in Bear Lake MI. In later years Jack and Marian beautifully restored their 1800’s farm home on TMA, built a custom home on Lake Yale in Leesburg, FL. Where they enjoyed picturesque sunrises, sunsets, biking, fishing, and warm weather. Marian often started the vision and Jack would grow the vision and make it happen; Marian and Jack were the perfect team!

Marian was ground-breaking in the field of real estate for over thirty-two years. Marian began her career in real estate in 1974 and became the broker/owner of Teter Reality, Inc. in 1981. Marian was one of the first women in the Southwest Michigan Region to earn her Certified Real Estate Broker (CRB) designation in real estate, and also earned her Graduate of Real Estate Institute (GRI) designation. She was a highly decorated realtor with multiple ‘Top Selling and Top Listing Agent of the Year’ awards for many years. Marian was also a people person who cared deeply for both her clients and agents working for her, she considered them all family. Marian’s professional legacy lives on through her daughter Tonya whom she mentored, and after working beside Marian for decades, Tonya has and continues to own and operate Teter Realty, Inc. since 2013.

Marian was a women who had a deep love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Marian especially loved sharing her great testimony of God’s love and grace with all she knew, and always considered herself a work in progress. Nineteen years ago, Marian faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis with a 2% survival rate; she overcame this and more. Marian recovered from a stroke in 2021, and valiantly fought and managed Parkinson’s disease for over a decade with humor, courage, and faith. Marian was a true warrior, and vowed to never give in or give up! With unwavering faith and determination, Marian gave God ALL of the glory for miraculous healing and recoveries. Marian was deeply grateful to her devoted husband Jack, her 6 faithful children, her loving family, and many friends for their immense prayers, love and support. Due to an unexpected health situation and multiple complications, Marian fiercely battled but could not overcome. Surrounded at Tonya’s home by her loving children and grandchildren, God chose to call Marian home to spend eternity in heaven’s paradise with Jesus Christ, her beloved Jack, triplet daughter Tracy, and several family members. Marian had a one of a kind soul that shined incredibly bright. She was a member of Community Baptist Church and renewed her vows with Jack for their 40th wedding anniversary there. She also enjoyed the many blessings of watching several of her children and grandchildren get baptizes, join as members, get married and attend Community Baptist Church; all were memories Marian treasured.

Marian is survived by her children whom she was very proud to call her own; James E. Teter, Scotty L. Teter (Susan), Tamara L. (Teter) Boyer (Timothy), Tonya I Teter-Hans (John), Jack (Jay) L. Teter Jr. (Heather), Misty D. (Teter) Welburn (Jason), her eighteen grandchildren, sixteen grandchildren. Also surviving are her younger brother James R. Ishamel (Kay), younger sister Frances I. (Ishmael) Eddy (Phil Eddy, deceased), Lela Joyce (Teter) Weber (Sister in law and best friend), Jeri Lowe (Teter) Hayden, her best friend Leona Fuller and family, and her many loving cousins, nieces and nephews in the Teter, Ishmael and Messal families. Preceding Marian in death are her husband Jack L. Teter, Sr. in 2015, triplet daughter Tracy Clara Teter, deceased after birth in 1964, her older brother Walter Edwards Ishmael (Wally) passed away in 2006, older half-brother William Frank Ishmael passed in 1981 in MO., and half sister Pearl (Ishmael) Lewis, passed in 2010 in Ramsey, IL.

All of this …. just because two people fell in love.

**Visitation with family will be on Saturday, February 15, 2025 (4:00 – 6:00) at the Community Church, 28647 US-12, Edwardsburg. The Service of Remembrance will be at 6:00 PM. Officiating will be a dear friend of Jack and Marian & Father to Jay and Heather (Polis) Teter, Rev. Patrick Polis, from Knoxville, TN. Burial will be at the Five Points Cemetery at a later date. Cremation has taken place. The family has requested that memorial donations be made in memory of Jack and Marian to “The Jack and Marian Teter Music and Fine Arts Scholarship Fund” in care of: Circle Federal Credit Union 501 North Main St., Niles, Michigan 49120. This scholarship will be awarded to an Edwardsburg Senior furthering their education in music. Arrangements handled by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main Street, Edwardsburg, MI.