Joan Lucille Whaley

Joan Lucille Whaley, 72, passed from this earth into the arms of Jesus, her Savior on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. She had resided with her sister, Melva Whaley, since 2024 in Grandville, Michigan.

A unique memorial celebration of Joanie's life is planned for those who knew and loved her. This will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at Crossway Community Church in Grand Rapids. Her family is asking friends and family to wear something red—Joanie's favorite color--if possible.

A daughter of Melvin F. and Lucille E. Whaley, Joan (aka Joanie, Jo-Jo) was born March 16, 1954, in Cadillac, MI, where she lived until 1986, after both of her parents passed away. Joanie attended Franklin Elementary School and special education classes in Cadillac.

She attended Temple Hill Baptist Church, and she loved the Bible and memorized many, many Bible verses. Among her favorite activities were playing Scrabble and other word games, reading simple books—especially Curious George--and playing the piano and her melodica.

After her parents died, Joanie moved to Bronson, Michigan, residing the following 37 years with her sister and brother-in-law, Margie and Albert Metzger and six children. She participated in the ADAPT day program for developmentally disabled adults in Coldwater for many years.

She also attended Pleasant Hill Missionary Church of Bronson and later the Sturgis Evangelical Church in Sturgis, MI, where she became a member and enjoyed playing frequent special selections on her melodica. One of Joanie's most exciting experiences was going to Pine Ridge Bible Camp for a week most summers.

In 2021 Joanie moved with her Metzger family to Harrietta, MI, near her hometown of Cadillac. Then, she enjoyed attending the Boon Baptist Church and loved the pastor and church family as well as the music, especially the traditional hymns. Her favorite song was “It's Just Like Jesus” because she said, “It makes me smile!”

After suffering numerous medical/health issues Joanie was cared for by her youngest sister, Melva, who returned from China where she was on the staff of an international school for 17 years.

For the past two and one-half years, Joanie has been a participant of the Care Resources program in Grand Rapids … she loved the many staff members who cared for her there. Faith Hospice staff and a loving friend, Keiona Brown, also have assisted with Joanie's care since her health declined.

Preceding her in death are her parents; a brother-in-law, Art Bartlett; a sister-in-law, Sarah Whaley; a niece, Lisa Metzger, and a nephew, Brian Metzger. Surviving are: her siblings: Robert (Jeannette) Whaley, Lake City; Roger Lee (Kathy) Whaley, Cadillac; Mary (Gerald) Metzger, Bronson; Margie (Albert) Metzger, Harrietta; Joy Bartlett, Rockford, and Melva Whaley, Grandville; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests memorial donations directed to Care Resources Grand Rapids (https://careresources.org/) or Pine Ridge Bible Camp for Freddie's Friends (https://pineridgecamp.com/) - a camp Joanie loved and that supports special needs individuals.