Joanna Wenstrand
GWINN, MI – Joanna Kay Wenstrand, 71, of Gwinn, died Monday afternoon, April 12, 2021, at her home, with her loving family at her side and under the care of U.P. Home Health and Hospice.
Joanna was born on January 21, 1950, in Geneva, Illinois, a daughter of the late Earl C. and Mary J. (Skinner) Shulaw. She was a graduate of Collinsville, Illinois High School.
Following her graduation from high school, Joanna attended Southern Illinois University and eventually transferred to Northern Illinois University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in teaching. She taught school in Germany, Kincheloe Air Force Base, Ellsworth Air Force Base and ultimately for the Gwinn Community Schools System where she taught special education for 20 years, retiring in 2013.
Joanna formerly sang in the Sweet Adeline’s and was a member of the Marquette Choral Society where she at one time sang in Carnegie Hall and on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. She was a former member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey and was also a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Jeff Wenstrand, Sr. whom she married on October 15, 1971, in Elburn, Illinois; two children, Jeff (Lisa) Wenstrand, Jr. and Janee (James Mitchell) Rozich, all of Gwinn; four grandchildren, Philip Wenstrand, Kyle (Anna Whitney) Rozich, James Rozich and Jacob Pepin as well as other adopted grandchildren, a great- grandson, Parker Whitney, also survives her as well as numerous cousins.
Preceding her in death besides her parents was a son, Jason Wenstrand on September 20, 2005.
The Wenstrand family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, April 17th from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Fellowship where a funeral service will be conducted in the church at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Andy Liimatta officiating. Burial will take place in the Gwinn Cemetery. Masks and social distancing will be observed. For those who cannot attend, Joanna’s funeral service will also be live streamed at https://my.gather.app/re member/joanna-kay-wen strand.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Canale Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services, where memories of Joanna may be shared at canalefuneral.com.