Joann E. Dickerson

Joann Ellen Dickerson, 80, of Clare, Michigan passed away at home surrounded by the love of her family on Monday, September 11, 2017. Joann was predeceased by her son Jeffery Michael, parents Alma (Schafer) Hogan and Joseph Hogan, two siblings, Jane and Matthew and one son-in-law, Steven MacLean. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, George Lyle Dickerson; four children, Timothy (Theresa) Dickerson of Middleville, MI, Teresa (Keith) Beatty of Clare, MI, James Dickerson of Ceresco, MI, Beth MacLean of Traverse City, MI; eleven grandchildren Miles and Marlee MacLean, Carly and Casey Dickerson, Nick, Jeff (Britney), Ben and Alec Dickerson, Hailey (Josh) Barton, Kelsey (Jordan) McConnell, Tyler (Gabrielle) Beatty; and one great-granddaughter Clara Dickerson; ten siblings Helen (Bud) Adams, Mary (Joseph) Platte, Ruth (Robert) Critchlow, Debra (Martha Moorehead) Hogan, John Hogan, Russ (Wendy Fielder) Hogan, Michael (Mary) Hogan, Patrick (Millie) Hogan, Roger Hogan, Douglas (Brenda) Hogan; numerous nieces and nephews and special friends Todd Gokey, Angela Haaf and Branden Robinson. Joann was born the first of thirteen Hogan children on February 15, 1937 in Ionia, MI. She attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School from kindergarten to 12th grade. Her first real job, besides babysitting, was at Perron’s Variety Store as a counter girl where she met the love of her life, George Lyle Dickerson. It took him a year and a half of “hanging out” at the store before she would agree to go out with this motorcycling bad boy from Palo, MI. Little did she know that she would spend her life on the back of his motorcycle traveling the country visiting all 50 states. They were married on September 6, 1958 at Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, Ionia, MI. Joann started teaching in a one room schoolhouse and ended her career in 1997 at Clare High School as a special education teacher. After retiring, George and Joann traveled all over the world, visiting every continent except Antarctica. Their last big adventure was a beautiful, first class train ride across Canada last September. Joann was a talented baker, making all of her children’s wedding cakes as well as few for her nieces and nephews. The grandchildren knew that her cookie jar was always full of home-baked treats made with the love only a grandmother can sprinkle on top. Every Christmas season would find all eleven grandchildren plus several neighborhood children building gingerbread houses with Grandma in the kitchen making memories, messes and masterpieces. Joann was very active in the community volunteering her time with the mentoring program at Clare primary school, the Irish Festival Committee and the St. Cecilia’s ladies guild. She was a member of the Classy Clarettes Red Hats Society and bowled in the ladies league at Gateway Lanes. Visitation for Joann will be at the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 from 2:00 to 5:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm. A special prayer service will take place at 8:00pm with an opportunity to share memories with the family. The funeral service will take place at Our Lady of Hope Parish – St. Cecilia Site in Clare, MI on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 11:00am. A luncheon will take place in the church hall following services at St. Cecilia Cemetery. Memorial contributions will be used to create a scholarship in Joann’s memory. On-line guestbook at www.stephenson-wyman.com

Joann E. Dickerson

February 15, 1937 - September 11, 2017