Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Howard, Mary Joanne (Burns) July 10, 2018 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net May 1, 2020, 8:46 am Ionia Sentinel Standard-July 12, 2018 MARY JOANNE BURNS HOWARD, 85 Mary Joanne Burns Howard joined her friends in the heavenly choir or on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 Joanne was born January 14, 1933, to Joseph and Eva Welch Burns on the farm on Hogan Road in rural Hubbardston. She was the third of 7 children. She attended St. John the Baptist Catholic school, graduated in 1951 as Valedictorian and attended Montcalm Ionia BI County Normal graduating in June 1952. She started her teaching career at Palo Elementary in 1952 and taught for a total of 40 years in Ionia County, Dover Delaware, Lansing and Montcalm Community College retiring at age 69 from MCC in 2000. In 1955 she married Captain Carroll I. (Bud) Howard at St. John the Baptist Church and started their married life together traveling the state in various Pilot Training locations. After Bud's retiring from the air force in 1959, Joanne resumed her teaching career, graduation from MSU with her BA and MA degrees. Always active in choir, Joanne was a choir member from age 6-80 plus and for over 40 years she was choir director at St. Michaels' Grand Ledge, St. John the Baptist's Choir and worked with the MCC Community Choir for the 6 years. She was Adjunct Professor of English there from 1993-2000. After retirement from Lansing School District in 1993 she published 3 history and genealogy books which resulted in her home Parish St. John the Baptist being designated as a Michigan and National Historic site. Moving back to the area in 1989 she continued her affiliation with St. John the Baptist Church in Hubbardston and St. Mary's Church in Carson City throughout her life maintaining her position as choir director, pianist, Lecter and Pastoral Minister for communion and Prayer Services. She was a family member on the board of Director of the Hubbardston Area Historical Society founded in Jan. 2002, as a result of the publication of her first book, St. John the Baptist on Fish Creek, "The Beginnings" the genealogy interest was sparked. She was secretary, membership chairperson and Newsletter editor from 2002-2018. membership grew to 400 plus by 2005 and has remained steady at the present date. She and her husband, Bud, were chairperson for all the social event and fundraisers through the first 12 years of HAHS. Joanne was Auxiliary Historian of Post 182 assuming the position in 1998 replacing Gerry Boomer at Gerry's request. Newsletters for the Post 182 were mailed quarterly from 2000-2017 and beyond hopefully. Musicians and friends were Joanne's life. She and Bud traveled the world together and danced away the years enjoying an exceptional relationship for 62 years. They were blessed with three children, Mark, Lisa Howard of Grand Ledge, Russell, Cindy Howard of Hubbardston and Virginia (Ginny), Lin Bollwahn of Laingsburg; seven grandchildren John, Melinda Rademacher, Dana, Matthew Pung, Crystal Howard, Heather and Doug Mitchell, Tom Howard Fiance' Chelsi Gilroy, Matthew Howard, Kailee, Tom Walters and step grandchildren Lisa Schmitt, Joe Peiffer, Eric Peiffer, Dustin Peiffer, Danielle Wetherwax, and Angella Bollwahn, And, many Great-grandchildren. And of course, no one could possibly have children, grandchildren or great grandchildren who were loved and appreciated more than Bud and Joanne's. Life was always positive to Joanne. Out of every disappointment there came a 'gleam of sunshine and hope'! When she and Bud celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary at the log home on M-57 was the gathering spot for the wonderful family time and holiday celebrations! Joanne told Bud, "now I can die! I have everything I ever could want in life; my beautiful home, my perfect family, my handsome and beautiful grandchildren and their spouses and my grand piano, my very special choir, so many wonderful friends through the years, the support of my readers and my friends gained through our many organizations and committees! What more could I ever want?" When you bury me at St. John the Baptist Cemetery remember that American the Beautiful and the Battle Hymn of the Republic are my very favorite songs, and have been throughout my life. If Mike Kelly and my choir are still around, then they will know that "Into Your Hand Lord" "take all the lost Home," " Sacred Joruney," "Here I am, Lord" are special songs that I enjoy as well as "Innisfree." "Galway Bay" and Irish eyes"! On my stone I'd like our birth and death dates as well as our wedded years June 1955-2017, and saying "What is once loved is yours forever, take it home in your heart and no one can ever take it away." And remember always, "Your faith is the strongest shoulder you will ever have to lean on and its always there for you!" Bury me in lavender or a beautiful shade of purple. Have my hair and makeup done perfectly and my nails filed nicely. My beautiful rig goes to Ginny and I'd like to distribute my clothes, shoes, jewelry, crystal and whatever to those who will appreciate and take care of it! My grand piano, don't know! My books-whoever! Remember always that I loved each and every one of you in a very special way and thanked God every day for giving me my wonderful husband and fantastic kids, grands and great grands! No one could be luckier than I was ! "I will never leave you, I will always be right there in your heart!" A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 14, 2018, at 11 a.m. at St. John Baptist Catholic Church in Hubbardston. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Prayer service and Rosary starting at 7 p.m. at the Lux and Schnepp Funeral Home, Carson City and Friday from 10 am., until time of Mass at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Hubbardston American legion, Hubbardston Area Historical Society or Hubbapolooza. To view Joanne's obituary or to leave a condolence for the family please visit luxfuneralhomes.com File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/h/howard36194nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb