Joanne Kay Mejeur died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo Saturday, March 23, after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 59.

Joanne was born in Plainwell on April 14, 1964, to Henry and Violet Leep of Shelbyville. 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. 

Joanne met her husband, Bruce Mejeur from Martin, in 1982  They were married on July 27, 1984, and they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in a few months. They welcomed their son, Lane Mitchell, in October 1997, and in 2001, 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.

Joanne’s other hobbies included reading, her cats, camping, sunsets, flip flops, and spending time with family. “Aunt Jo/Aunt Joie” attended many sporting events, school programs, and special events of her many nieces and nephews. Many of the nieces and the nephews and their children joined Aunt Joie in her love for the beach/camping.

Surviving are her husband, Bruce; their children: Lane, and Kari (Zac) Zhou, 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, and Joyce (Gary) DeKoekkoek of Zeeland.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Violet Leep, a brother, Jack Leep, mother-in-law, Sandy Mejeur, and a brother-in-law, Brian Mejeur, and babies who died after they were born a little too early to survive.

The family will receive visitors at the East Martin Christian Reformed Church from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 29. A celebration of life service will be held at East Martin Christian Reformed Church at 11 a.m. with burial 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.