Debbie Stiglitz

Debbie grew up in a rural area outside of Escanaba, Mich. She began to work at a local church part time and took classes at the local community college. As a graduate of the 70s she did not have but a semester of data processing and had never used a modern computer. She knew that she now a single mom of four would have to work to provide for her children. After two computer classes, she felt prepared to look for full time employment and was hired by a government organization now called Michigan Works. Having focused on business classes in high school, she had a lot of skills to work as an administrative assistant and in 1993, she began her career at the community college where she trained.

She met an old schoolmate, Mike, through her brother’s friendship with him. Mike was back from working in Janesville at GM after many layoffs. They began dating and married in 1997. The children had grown and were mostly on their own and the first grandchild, now 24 is the oldest with 9 more that followed. In 2008 they moved west toward her father who was aging. As retirement drew close, they downsized and stayed close to a church they were attending.

In 2015 she retired from the community college. Her love for computer work didn’t end as she has been a big part of the AV team at her church and a couple years later, Debbie and her sister began an annual craft show in the barn, called Christmas at the Barn. With her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis, it is looking like there will be another downsizing move where they can be closer to the children and her husband’s aging parents.