EBEN, Mich. - Joan Mary Leppanen was born on November 7, 1923, in Marquette to George and Saime (Tyrvainen) Shorkey. She died on June 14, 2012, at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising.
Joan attended Baraga Parochial School in Marquette and learned how to skate at the Bishop Baraga ice rink and was an accomplished figure skater. On November 22, 1941, she married Willard Leppanen and together they raised two children, a son, Michael, and a daughter, Joy Ann.
Joan and Willard were very active in the Chatham Senior Citizens Group organizing several Debbie Bus Tours for the seniors. They enjoyed playing pinochle with her brother and sister-in-law, George and Marge Shorkey. She loved dancing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting which she won several awards for. She also enjoyed baking, flower gardening, lake trout fishing, berry picking, feeding birds and camping.
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Joan Mary Leppanen
Joan is survived by her children Mike and Flora Leppanen and Joy Ann Wellman of Eben; four grandsons Greg, Chad, J.B., and Jamie; thirteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Willard who died on May 9, 1989, along with a sister Donna Brady, brother George Shorkey, grandsons Scott Leppanen and Tony Trepczyk, and great-grandson Christopher Trepczyk.
There will be no public services for Joan per her wishes. Her obituary and guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.bowermanfuneralhome.net.