Joanne L. Flagstadt

Joanne was born in Escanaba on March 21, 1931, daughter of Arthur and Mathilda (Morreau) DeLaire. She was a life-long resident of the area, graduating from Escanaba High School in 1949. She attended Bay College where she received a business certificate.

She worked at Michigan Bell, the Escanaba Dairy, and State of Michigan – Unemployment Agency, and was fondly known as “that nice unemployment lady,’ before retiring in 1995.

Joanne loved to go for walks, with her beloved dog Sadie. She enjoyed traveling, cruises, attending community events such as Rock the Dock, concerts, Art in the Park, listening to music, going to the casino, playing cards, grocery and clothes shopping, and also clipping coupons.

She was a member of the Eagles club, SERA, CHAT (Community Handicap Awareness Team), and St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parish.

She attended Community Action Agency Adult Day Services, formerly Perspectives, for the last 3.5 years, and loved going to “work” there every day. She enjoyed all the workers, and friends she met there, including all their fun activities and music. She was fondly known as the “den-mother.”

Among survivors are her children, Kris (Gus) Olson of Escanaba, Kathy Flagstadt of Marquette, Kenneth (Shelly) Flagstadt of Escanaba and Kevin Flagstadt of Escanaba, Jen Flagstadt (daughter-in-law) of Escanaba; grandchildren, Luke Olson, Leah Olson-Aftab, Levi Olson, Ken Flagstadt, Krystal Flagstadt-Wallin and Kristopher Gregorie; great-grandchildren, Sophia, Zack, Zain, Zeb and Zubair Aftab and Isaak and Nevaeh Wallin; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Mark; and siblings Jim, Robert and Eileen.

The visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 302 South 13th Street, Escanaba. The funeral service will begin at 5 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Timothy Ferguson officiating. A meal will follow immediately after the service at the Crawford Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the kindness and loving care of U.P. Health Systems – Hospice, which provided care and assistance during the last 6 months.

Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations can be directed to Community Action Adult Day Care or the local Alzheimer’s Association. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net.