Chris R. Creek
Obituary
Chris R. Creek, 73, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Givens Highland Farms Health Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Born on April 15, 1952, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Chris was the daughter of the late John Henry Creek and Alice Mae Merritt. A proud lifelong resident of West Michigan, she called the Eastown neighborhood home for nearly 50 years.
She grew up on a farm on 10 Mile Road, graduated from Rockford High School, and subsequently from Grand Valley State University where she studied social work and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. While her primary vocation was that of a dedicated mother, homemaker and community maker, her career path was diverse. She served the community as a helpline switchboard operator, waitress, bank teller, realtor, social worker (including at Forest View Hospital), and clerk at Forest Hills Foods. In a world of so much blame and harshness, she was accepting, open, and so loving. Her welcoming arms took in and loved everyone who came to her. She even regarded her job as a grocery clerk as a way to love people.
Chris was a woman of deep faith and community spirit. An active member of Fountain Street Church, she shared her voice in the Adult Choir and her heart through the Befrienders Ministry. Her passion for music extended to her international folk-dance band and the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus. An avid reader who was never without a book, Chris also enjoyed the simple joys of playing games—especially Wizard—camping, and traveling through Europe, especially Scotland, and Canada. She loved animals and always had the nicest pets. She was known for her cooking, baking, and love of poetry and thrifting.
Most importantly, Chris cherished her time with her children, grandchildren and her intentional communities, including TORI (Trust, Openness, Realization, and Interdependence) and Saug-For-All (a summer camp for adults).
She is survived by her son, Benjamin Schweizbach (Eliza) of Asheville, NC; her daughter, Jennifer Schweizer Slade (metamour Alyssa Ginsburg, and husband Aaron) of Toronto, Ontario; her brother, Rob Creek (Kathy Wright) of Chase, MI; and her beloved grandchildren, Jack Slade and August Schweizbach. She also leaves behind her niece, Autumn Seavey (Adam) of Leroy, MI, and her loving ex-husband, John Schweizer, along with his wife Anne and daughter Claire Marie.
Chris Creek raised two humans with care and compassion and the feeling that they were wholeheartedly and unconditionally loved. This gift is still being passed along through them to her grandchildren. Chris knew how to sit with people, listen and accept them as they were, all while knitting enough afghans to warm her friends and family for years to come.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, with Margi Derks Peterson officiating. A potluck reception will follow.
Gallery
Memory wall
I was always so pleased to be with her. She was so warm and so supportive. I love the fact she saw the world as glass that's half full.
The other remembrance I'll mention was my visit to her house in Grand Rapids following a camp in 2007..She was so attentive to my needs and I just felt so much at home. I recall her educating me on how to shop at thrift stores. That was so cool.
May her memory be a blessing and her soul be bound in the bonds of eternal life. i
We stayed in touch after I moved to Sonoma where she once visited me enjoying sights, sounds,and thrift stores all over the valley. Chris had a loving ,giving spirit,a true friend . We stayed in touch across the miles on Birthdays and holidays until we didn't. One of her last messages to me was her sorrow that we did not stay better in touch.
Although I am saddened she is gone I feel very blessed to have been her friend.
I am so pleased her daughter and grandchild have been in my life. They are how I even knew her at all, and they embody all the goodness, love and joy that Chris radiated. I will miss her in person but I know her vitality and love lives on in everyone she encountered, however briefly,
In those days I travelled back and forth between Grand Rapids and Toronto and would frequently chill out with Chris and her family at their home. During that time, I would sometimes bring my dog "Emily" with me. This wasn't exactly the best time for a dog, Emily liked stability and travelling back and forth between Toronto and GR was stressful for her.
One day, Chris said to me ever so respectfully, that she never wanted to come between me and my dog, but that she wanted me to know that if I should ever want to provide a home for Emily in GR, Chris and her family would love to have her. I saw the wisdom in this, and the result was that Emily had more than 10 good years of so much love and attention with Chris and her family.
I feel like Chris made a difference in my life and I will always remember her with fondness.
Family tree
Service
There will be a potluck reception following the service. Please bring food to share (suggestion by Jack Slade: bring your favorite recipe by Chris).
To honor Chris' love of community, bring poems, singing voices, any instruments and Rise Up Singing song books.
We will come together to remember and celebrate the life of the wonderful Chris Creek.
We will have cards for you to write memories or stories. If you would like to write them ahead of time, please use a 3x5 index card. You are also invited to share your memories and stories on the digital memory wall here.
Looking forward to sharing tears, laughter, hugs, and stories.
*You are welcome to dress for a celebration and as you feel comfortable.*
24 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Donate
You can contribute here. https://bit.ly/4bjUYto
Français
Deutsch
Nederlands
Español
Português
Magyar
Русский
繁體中文