Joanne Mejeur

With family surrounding her bedside at Borgess Hospital, Joanne Kay Mejeur passed into glory to meet face to face with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 23, 2024, after a two-year battle with cancer.  

Joanne was born in Plainwell, MI, on April 14, 1964, to Henry and Violet Leep of Shelbyville, MI.  Joanne was welcomed home by two older sisters and three older brothers, and she grew up helping on the family potato farm.  She attended East Martin Christian School, Kalamazoo Christian High School, one year at Calvin College, and Kellogg Community College where she received a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. Joanne spent the last 34 years of her career working in Allegan with the West Michigan Rehab/Borgess-Ascension PT center where she diligently helped thousands of patients recovering from injuries or joint replacement. Many of her colleagues were like a second family to her. 

In 1982, Joanne met a young man named Bruce Mejeur from Martin, and they began dating.  They were married on July 27, 1984, and they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in a few months. After years of waiting and praying, they joyfully welcomed their son, Lane Mitchell, in October, 1997, and in 2001, filled with thankfulness, they welcomed their daughter, Karina Ann.  Bruce and Joanne built a house in Martin where they raised their children and where they attended East Martin Christian Reformed Church.  Joanne started sharing her musical talent of playing the piano in church when she was in middle school, and she began playing organ/piano duets soon after that with her sister.  Joanne also accompanied for the Junior Choir, for soloists. congregational singing, and with the praise team.  Her gifts will be greatly missed. Joanne's other hobbies include reading, her cats, camping, sunsets, flip flops, and spending time with family. 

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Joanne was loved as a daughter, sister, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, friend, and most of all a special aunt.  There are SO many photos of Aunt Jo/Aunt Joie attending the sporting events, school programs, and special events of her many nieces and nephews and they all to this day appreciate her interest.  Many of the nieces and the nephews and their children joined Aunt Joie in her love for the beach/camping and will cherish the memories of time spent with her there. Aunt Joie’s snacks were the BEST! 

Surviving is her husband, Bruce; their children: Lane, and Kari (Zac) Zhou, and a much-loved grandson, Lennon.  Also surviving are Joanne's siblings: Sally (Mark) Laning, Harvey (Debbie) Leep, and sister-in-law: Chris Leep all from Martin; Tim (Karen) Leep of Middleville, MI; and Joyce (Gary) DeKoekkoek of Zeeland, MI. Father-in-law Jim (Cindy) Mejeur, Brother-in-laws Don (Robin) Mejeur, Dave (Jean) Mejeur, and sister-in-law Susan Perkins.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Violet Leep, a brother, Jack Leep, a beloved mother-in-law, Sandy Mejeur, a brother-in-law, Brian Mejeur, and brother-in-law Bob Perkins. Joanne will also finally get to hold their precious babies who went to see Jesus after they were born a little too early to survive.

The family will receive visitors at the East Martin Christian Reformed Church on Friday, March 29 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.  A Celebration of Life service will be held at East Martin Christian Reformed Church at 11:00 with a burial service at East Martin cemetery. Following the burial service, a luncheon will be held back at the church. Contributions can be given to the East Martin Christian School.  

While visiting Joanne’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family. 

The family is being assisted by Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).