Michelle Ann Bloomfield

Michelle Bloomfield, 63, of Portage, MI died unexpectedly on May 1, 2025 after sustaining unsurvivable injuries when another driver crossed a double-yellow line and struck her head-on. To her friends she was “Shelley”, and her grandchildren called her “Grammy” or “Wawa”. But more notably, people knew her as a person who would drop everything for someone who needed help.

Shelley was born to Donna Juranek on April 1, 1962 in Mississippi and grew up in the Kalamazoo area. She was the youngest of three children and the only girl. For a time she lived with her older brother and his family, where she graduated from Plainwell High School. Shelley married in 1981 and lived in Louisiana for a time as a military spouse before settling in Byron Center, MI to raise three children. She later divorced and briefly remarried, welcoming her fourth child. She continued raising her children in the Kalamazoo area as a dedicated and loving single mom. Her family and friends remember her as a strong woman who never gave up and would do anything for her loved ones, even moving to Iowa for a few years and back to Michigan when her family needed their Grammy near.

Shelley worked many jobs throughout her life, most recently as a unit secretary at Metro Health where her positive nature and spirited personality lit up the day of everyone she interacted with. Outside of work, she was a talented artist across many mediums. She truly excelled in painted works. Shelley enjoyed crafting and often frequented craft shows as a vendor or co-vendor. She had a knack for teaching painting, even to those who thought they didn’t have a creative bone in their body. She taught a variety of craft nights and loved leading painting parties.

Shelley enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles, camping with family and friends, movie or game nights, reading books, and porch-sitting with a cup of coffee. Her most cherished activity was visiting Lake Michigan with her best friend Ginger to watch the boats in the channel. She loved jokes and had a contagious, honest laugh her family will always remember. She adored her grandchildren more than anything and would spend whole afternoons watching marching band or show choir performances, playing at a park, crafting, or fishing a lake or stream. She looked forward to every opportunity to visit her out-of-state family whenever she could, but near or far, her older grandchildren loved their daily Snapchat messages with Grammy and she would answer Facetime calls from her youngest grandkids any time.

A longtime Michigan resident, she was preceded in death by her mother Donna and brother Terry. Shelley is survived by her children and their spouses, Jennifer (Benjamin) Fritz of Cedar Rapids, IA; Stephanie (Chuck) Nystrom of Plainwell, MI; Douglas (Clairece) Huyge of Great Lakes, IL; and Abby (Devvyn) Fader of Sturgis, MI; 10 grandchildren Elliot, Cassandra, and Penelope Fritz, Austin and Ainsley Koon, Emmett, Cole, and Vivianne Huyge, and Zofia and Ellie Fader; her brother Vincent (Rose) Juranek of FL; and many in her extended family both by blood and chosen.

Arrangements entrusted to Family First Funeral & Cremation Services where cremation has taken place. A remembrance celebration in her honor will be held on June 15, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Corner 401, 5401 W H Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Shelley was a bright light in all our lives. Please honor her memory with bright colors and stories of joyful memories.

In the attempt to save her life, Shelley was given over 50 units of blood products. In lieu of flowers, please consider a blood or monetary donation to The American Red Cross Southwest Michigan Chapter in her name. To find a blood drive near you visit www.redcrossblood.org