Joan Elizabeth Lautner

July 3, 1923 - September 29, 2020

Joan Elizabeth Lautner, 97, previously of Solon Township, Leelanau County, passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2020. She was blessed to spend her final years in the loving care of Barb and Bob, her daughter and son-in-law, all living in the Mancelona area together with Bob’s mother, Olga. Joan was born July 3, 1923 to Rev. Charles and Ada Peterson in Gladwin Township. After graduating as valedictorian from Morley High School, Joan attended Central Michigan University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree to pursue teaching. On December 20, 1947 she married Carl E. Lautner of Cedar at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. She taught for one year at Newaygo High School and then taught English and Speech for twenty-nine years at Traverse City Junior High School. Joan was a member of Long Lake Friends Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was a member and officer of the Home Arts Study Group and the Solon Family Fellowship. During her first twenty-four years, with her father being a Methodist minister serving churches in many towns, she lived in fifteen towns and twenty-six different houses and dorm rooms. When she and Carl married, they moved into their newly built house on Carl’s family farm where she lived all the rest of her years until for health reasons she moved in with her daughter. Friends were very important to her and through all of the moves and the years she maintained close contact with her special friends from grade school, high school, college, teaching, the Solon neighborhood, and adult women’s groups. She noted in the story of her life that she and Barb wrote two years ago, “As I think back over the years of my life, I wonder where the time went. I have had a good life, a good family, good friends and a good God to see me through. I am thankful for all of it.” Survivors include one son, Jim (Melinda) Lautner of Cedar; two daughters, Barb (Bob) Paladino of Mancelona; and Dr. Beth Lautner (Dr. Tom Sauber) of Johnston, Iowa; grandchildren, Ginger (George) Newman of Maple City; Clint Lautner of Cedar; Lexi (Zach) Farrow of Cedar; Amelia (Ryan) Davis of Traverse City; Leah Masters of Traverse City; James Hall of Sidney, Montana; Don Paladino of Lansing; Tony Paladino of Kalkaska; Sarah (Steve) Lukan of West Des Moines, Iowa; Scott (Rebeka) Sauber of Ankeny, Iowa; Mark (Caitlin) Sauber of Ankeny, Iowa; and great grandchildren, Keira, Katelyn and Oliver Newman; Sterling Farrow; Everly Davis; Teddy, Oliver and Hank Lukan; Anna and Emery Sauber; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Joan loved her family so much and her family all loved her back. She will be greatly missed. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Arthur Peterson, her sister, Helen Moser and her sisters-in-law, Esther White and Sylvia Lautner. Thank you to Hospice of Michigan for their caring assistance. A graveside memorial service, open to everyone, will be held at Solon Township Cemetery on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Burial of her cremated remains will follow. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Joan’s family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.