Joy Lee Han
Joy Lee Han
ISHPEMING, MI – Joy Lee Han, age 89, of Ishpeming, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 24, 2020, surrounded by the love of her family, and having been under their care at their homes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since April. She carried with her a strong and enduring faith in Christ Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
She was born Joy Lee in Kaifeng, in China, on October 29, 1930, and immigrated to the United States on November 4, 1950. She obtained her B.S. degree in Medical Technology at Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Belton, TX. In the U.S., she met and married Tsu Ming Han on July 21, 1956, then moved to Ishpeming and became a naturalized American citizen in December 1962. She was a medical technologist at Bell Memorial Hospital until her retirement in 1994 and lived at 651 Duncan Avenue in Ishpeming for 50 years until moving to the Teal Lake Senior Living Community in Negaunee in April 2019.
Joy kept an extensive journal, and in 2017 published an illustrated autobiography, “Rice Paper Memoirs,” that describes her life in China, her immigration experience, and eventual settlement in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her book is included with the Tsu Ming Han Papers that are stored in the NMU Archives. In 2019, she established the Tsu Ming and Joy L. Han Scholarship Fund with the Community Foundation of Marquette County for high school students pursuing higher education. She also volunteered at the Ishpeming Salvation Army for many years, and was a faithful member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Negaunee. She was a dedicated listener and supporter of WHWL.
Her many interests included playing scrabble, studying the Bible, singing, traveling, and reading classic literature. She enjoyed being in the company of her dear friend, Marie Rogers, bringing their musical talent to area nursing homes over the years. Most of all, she cherished being with her children and grandchildren.
Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Tsu Ming Han, and brother, Samuel (Rosie) Lee of Timonium, MD. She is survived by sons; Dennis (Mary Lynn) of Whitefish Bay, WI and Timothy of Wilmington, NC, daughter; Lisa (Quinn) Ellner of Xi’an, China, brothers; Joseph (Cathy) Lee of Bel Air, MD, Eugene Lee of Greenbelt, MD, James (Paulina) Lee of Las Vegas, NV, sister; Lois (Hank) Lin of Ocala, FL and 5 grandchildren; Michael and Colin Han, and Pierce (Nicky), Jenai and Josiah Ellner.
Visitation will be held at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr., Shorewood, WI 53211, on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at 10:00 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI.
A memorial service will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Negaunee on Saturday, October 31, to mark the occasion of her 90th birthday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ishpeming Salvation Army, the Calvary Baptist Church of Negaunee, or WHWL of Marquette. Feerick Funeral Home in Milwaukee, WI is assisting the family, (414) 962-8383. Please see www.feerickfuneral home.com for more details or to share condolences and memories.