Joanna Pearce

Jo was born and raised in Grand Ledge, Michigan in 1956. She attended Grand Ledge Public Schools and graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1974. She spent summers at her family’s summer cottage on Walloon Lake, outside Petoskey, MI. She first attended college at Western Michigan University. She transferred to Northern Michigan University in 1976 from which she graduated in 1981. While attending NMU, Jo worked at what was then Cliffs Ridge ski area, where she met her future husband Doug Pearce, and at Vangos Restaurant. Jo took time off in the middle of her tenure at NMU to tend bar in Kodiak, Alaska for a year. After her marriage to Doug in Marquette in 1983, the couple moved to the Ft. Lauderdale area of Florida where Jo taught high school biology for 34 years. She and Doug raised their two daughters Liz and Kate in Florida; spending their summers at their camp on the shores of Lake Superior near Marquette. She loved being outdoors. She loved to travel and was fortunate to create lasting memories with her family and friends in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

The most important things to Jo were always her family, her friends, and the special times she created and enjoyed at the family camp on Lake Superior. Her infectious love for these things will linger in the hearts and minds of those that knew and loved her. Jo had a clear sense of direction in her life. She was a hard worker. She had great strength of character. Jo was incredibly generous with her time and love. Jo was fun.

Jo is survived by her husband Doug, and two daughters Liz (Zack Mully) in Washington, DC, and Kate (David Hancock) in Bellingham, WA. Her brother Bill Brandenburg lives in Marquette, and her brother John Brandenburg (Kathy) lives in Maple City, MI. Jo leaves behind brothers-in-law John Pearce and Jim Pearce (Israel Souza). Jo’s nieces are: Tavi Brandenburg, Bryn Bette Austin, and Eva Brandenburg. Jo’s nephews are Jori Brandenburg and Brian Pearce. Jo’s mother, Bette Burton Brandenburg, and father John Junior Brandenburg passed away within the last year in Marquette at ages 98 and 100 respectively.

For anyone wanting to honor Jo’s life by making a charitable donation in her name, please do so to a cause in which you believe. Honoring Jo’s wishes no public services will be held.

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