Denise L. Simpson

Denise L. Simpson, 59, passed away in peace with her family by her side on August 10th, 2024, in Lansing, Michigan. 

Denise was born in Lansing, MI, on March 14, 1965, to her mother, Joanne Brown (McDaniels), and father, Edwin Ion Simpson.

To know Denise was an honor, and you never forgot her. In school, she was voted class clown and “best all around." She made sure to carry these titles well into adulthood too. Denise graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1983 with a diploma in one hand and a baby in the other. 

Denise enjoyed the simple things in life. In her words, the things that made her happy were “the sun on my face, singing and dancing, the woods and outdoors, being comfortable with people, expressing myself and being understood, good hugs and handshakes, pleasure after pain, pain after pleasure, good tears, starry nights, sunny days, and my children’s smiles." Denise had several health problems throughout her life, but she never let this get her down, and she stayed true to herself up until the very end. Denise was the kind of friend you could call at 3 a.m. to have come pull you out of a ditch. When she loved, she loved hard. Her three children, Sarah, Daniel, and Elizabeth (Lizzy), were her world, and she was theirs as well. She strived to be the best mom ever, and she did just that. 

Denise is survived by her children, Sarah (Kevin), Daniel, and Lizzy (Tyler); grandchild Johnny Wardas; mother Joanne Brown (Leonard); sisters Kathryn and Sky; special cousin Cherie McDaniels; and many more family members and close friends. She will be dearly missed by her cat, Sissy (Sandy). She was preceded in death by her aunt Rosemarie “Roz” Nickel, her father, whom she “missed more than you could ever miss someone,” Edwin Ion Simpson, her grandmother Lulu Gregg-Simpson, her cousin Bradley Lehman, and her grandparents Harold and Helen McDaniels. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes.  Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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