Joanne E. (Clegg) Bezotte

Joanne Emma Clegg was born, November 12, 1931, to Clinton W. and Byrdell (Kerr) Clegg in Pickford Township, Chippewa County, Michigan. She was raised on the Clegg Homestead in Pickford and graduated from Pickford High School in 1950. She met (Edgar) John Bezotte while he was stationed with the Michigan Department of Conservation in DeTour Village. Joanne and John were married April 21, 1951, at Goetzville, Michigan, in St. Stanislaus Church, which she always called, “The Little Brown Church.” The couple made their first home and started their family in Sault Ste. Marie. With John’s job, the family moved to Newberry, Marenisco, Laurium and finally, in 1959, Marquette.

The Bezotte family loved and belonged to St. Michael Catholic Church for nearly sixty years. Joanne was baptized Catholic there in 2003 by Msgr. Jed Patrick. In 2019, when Joanne moved in with Denise, she joined St. Louis the King Church in Harvey and found a new welcoming church family.

Joanne embraced her roles as wife, mother and homemaker. She raised and cared for her family and home with selfless energy, creativity and extraordinary love. The home was our first school, our first church, and full of love.

Joanne had a number of jobs where she brought a ready smile and her inherited enthusiasm for good conversation.

She worked at the University Students’ Store, Superior Shores Restaurant, Graveraet Middle School, Marquette Senior High School, and Marquette First Federal Credit Union, now Marquette Community Federal Credit Union. She also volunteered at the Marquette General Hospital gift shop and St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Some time after John passed in 1983, Joanne joined the Hardee’s Walkers. The group walked daily at Presque Isle Park and met for coffee and socializing at Hardee’s restaurant. The group loved to host afternoon and evening gatherings in their homes. They laughed, talked, told stories, played cards and ate good food and always ate good food.

Survivors include her children, John (Anne) Bezotte, Kathryn (Richard Ackerberg) Bezotte, Denise McDonald, Brian (Crystal Pelatola) Bezotte, and Daniel (Mary Beth) Bezotte; cherished grandchildren, Matthew (Alisha) Bezotte and Danielle (Nate) Pomaville, Ryan (Jackie) and Amy Ackerberg, Kelly, Ellen (Jay Walters), John and Sean (Kelli) McDonald, Dalton and Logan Bezotte, and Christopher Bezotte; her brother, Clinton (Maggie) Clegg, Jr; brother-in-law, Carroll Goodridge; many precious great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Joanne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John; her parents; a brother, Ronald Clegg; a sister, Donna Goodridge; and son-in-law, John Kevin McDonald.

Joanne was also predeceased by her treasured friends and travel adventure companions, Juanita Curry, Mary Boogren and Ceil Bickler – the Marquette Golden Girls.

Friends may call at St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey on Tuesday, November 10, beginning at 11:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon with Rev. Glenn Theoret, pastor, as celebrant.

Masks and social distancing are required and no reception will be held.

Interment will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2119 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com