Joan Marie Wiitala

Williamsburg – Joan Marie Wiitala passed away peacefully at Munson Hospice House on June 17, 2025, just eleven days shy of her 90th birthday. Joan was born at the family farm in Mesick on June 28, 1935 to the late Gale and Alice (Sparks) Redman. Later on, Alice married Donald Clark who was a big part of Joan’s life along with her children and grandchildren. On November 11, 1955 she married her high school sweetheart Don Wiitala. The couple moved to Traverse City and were both employed by the Traverse City State Hospital. Joan loved being a homemaker, mother and grandmother. She cherished her numerous granny trips up north in the UP with her grandchildren. She also loved taking them to the Old Mission Lighthouse beach for the day when they were young. Joan found joy in hosting many family dinners and celebrations in her home. She enjoyed watching the birds from her deck and tending to her flowers. She was a gifted seamstress and knitter, and in her free time loved jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and playing numerous games, especially canasta. In her younger years, she was active in children’s ministry at Bethany Baptist Church. She also sang alto in the church choir for many years and loved to sing the great hymns of faith. One of her favorite hymns was Victory in Jesus. Joan was greeted in heaven by her family who preceded her in death: grandsons Adam and Donnie Taylor; brother Devere Redman; brother-in-law Rev. Richard Duncan and sister-in-law Carol (Wiitala) Stevens. Joan is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Don; their children Mark (Lisa) Wiitala, Pam (Don) Taylor and Lisa (Jon) Forton; grandchildren Stephanie Wiitala, Jennifer Kharin, Jacob Stout, Bryan Taylor, Nicholas Forton, Cameron Forton, Olivia Taylor and Isaac Taylor; great grandchildren Lauren Sheffer, Riley Sheffer, Hazel Stout, Scarlett Stout, Esme Wiitala-Dayton, Nikolai Kharin and Lucy Kharin; and sister-in-law Marilee (Wiitala) Duncan. Please join the family for a celebration of Joan’s life on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Bayview Wesleyan Church at 11 am, with visitation beginning at 10. A luncheon will follow. She will be laid to rest at Acme Township Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to Munson Hospice House.

Joan Marie Wiitala

June 28, 1935 - June 17, 2025