JOANIE MARY MERCHANT
78, of Cass City, passed away on March 12, 2023 after a repeated battle with breast cancer. Joanie was born May 19, 1944 in Cass City to Alex and Naomi Arloa (Gibson) Lindsay.
Joanie and her two siblings were raised in Shabonna, where they attended Evergreen School in their early years. She later attended Cass City Public Schools before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona to finish her senior year at Phoenix Christian High School. Joanie graduated from Phoenix Christian High in 1962.
After high school, Joanie relocated back to Michigan and accepted a job with Reichley Supply in Saginaw. She would later work for the IGA and Cass City State Bank where she met Allen John Merchant. Joanie and Allen were married on August 26, 1967 in the Cass City Missionary Church. In 1968, they welcomed their first-born daughter Barbara Jean into the world. Their second child, son John Allen was born in 1971. Joanie and Allen built their family home on Merchant Farms in 1970. In 1977, together Joanie and Allen obtained their private pilot licenses. This achievement made Joanie the first female resident of Cass City to earn a private pilot license.
Joanie was driven to always improve herself. In 1987, she completed her associate’s degree. Joanie furthered her education with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saginaw Valley State University in 2002. She completed the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking course, where she learned to articulate effectively. Joanie worked for Bay City Foundry and then at General Cable in Cass City in the accounting department until its’ closure in 2002.
Joanie carried an immense love for her family and always encouraged them to be their best. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy and delight! She was blessed with the talent to knit and crochet. Joanie lovingly crocheted each of her three grandchildren an afghan. All of the things she made and gave away were true gifts of love and friendship. She loved to sew. Joanie made her own wedding gown and all her bridesmaid dresses. Music and faith were of great importance to Joanie who, like her father Alex, participated in multiple church choirs. Joanie enjoyed playing the piano and shared her love of music with friends and family. Cooking and sewing were other talents that she often referred to as labors of joy. Joanie was a great cook and often spent hours preparing food for the Bach Festival and many church events
Gardening was also important to Joanie. She planted and harvested a large garden each season and preserved her bounty using canning and freezing methods. Joanie grew many beautiful flowers and plants in her yard including flowers she received from her Grandmother Gibson as well as others. To see them bloom in the Spring brought great joy to her.
Joanie is survived by her companion of over thirty years, Patrick Davis; children: Barbara Jean (John) Tilt of Cass City, John Allen (Jamie Joi-Ann Stubbs) of Cass City; grandson, Jesse Allen Merchant; granddaughters: Alexandria Mary Tilt, Claire Elise Merchant; sister, Charlotte Ann Conaway; brother, Paul Lindsay; in-laws: Joyce (Clinton) Esckilson, Ruth (Gerald) Whittaker, Marlene “Cookie” Merchant, JoAn Merchant; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Joanie is predeceased by her parents Alex and Naomi (Arloa) Lindsay; brothers-in-law: Wayne Conaway, Jim Merchant, William Merchant; sister-in-law, Jacque (Gabbert) Lindsay; nephew, Dan Conaway; former spouse, Allen John Merchant.
The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Americans Home Health and Hospice Care, specifically to hospice nurse, Heather Ann Pemble and Lindie Vandeberghe. Also, to cousin Betty Powell and hospice nurse, Richelle LeValley. All of them took loving care of Joanie in her final days on Earth.
Funeral service held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Cass City United Methodist Church with Pastor Bob Demyanovich officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery in the spring. Memorials may be made to the family to be used for a donation at a later date.
Visitation: 3 pm to 8pm Friday, March 17, 2023 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
1 pm to 2 pm Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Cass City Methodist Church
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joanie Mary Merchant (Lindsay), please visit our flower store.
78, of Cass City, passed away on March 12, 2023 after a repeated battle with breast cancer. Joanie was born May 19, 1944 in Cass City to Alex and Naomi Arloa (Gibson) Lindsay.
Joanie and her two siblings were raised in Shabonna, where they attended Evergreen School in their early years. She later attended Cass City Public Schools before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona to finish her senior year at Phoenix Christian High School. Joanie graduated from Phoenix Christian High in 1962.
After high school, Joanie relocated back to Michigan and accepted a job with Reichley Supply in Saginaw. She would later work for the IGA and Cass City State Bank where she met Allen John Merchant. Joanie and Allen were married on August 26, 1967 in the Cass City Missionary Church. In 1968, they welcomed their first-born daughter Barbara Jean into the world. Their second child, son John Allen was born in 1971. Joanie and Allen built their family home on Merchant Farms in 1970. In 1977, together Joanie and Allen obtained their private pilot licenses. This achievement made Joanie the first female resident of Cass City to earn a private pilot license.
Joanie was driven to always improve herself. In 1987, she completed her associate’s degree. Joanie furthered her education with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saginaw Valley State University in 2002. She completed the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking course, where she learned to articulate effectively. Joanie worked for Bay City Foundry and then at General Cable in Cass City in the accounting department until its’ closure in 2002.
Joanie carried an immense love for her family and always encouraged them to be their best. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy and delight! She was blessed with the talent to knit and crochet. Joanie lovingly crocheted each of her three grandchildren an afghan. All of the things she made and gave away were true gifts of love and friendship. She loved to sew. Joanie made her own wedding gown and all her bridesmaid dresses. Music and faith were of great importance to Joanie who, like her father Alex, participated in multiple church choirs. Joanie enjoyed playing the piano and shared her love of music with friends and family. Cooking and sewing were other talents that she often referred to as labors of joy. Joanie was a great cook and often spent hours preparing food for the Bach Festival and many church events
Gardening was also important to Joanie. She planted and harvested a large garden each season and preserved her bounty using canning and freezing methods. Joanie grew many beautiful flowers and plants in her yard including flowers she received from her Grandmother Gibson as well as others. To see them bloom in the Spring brought great joy to her.
Joanie is survived by her companion of over thirty years, Patrick Davis; children: Barbara Jean (John) Tilt of Cass City, John Allen (Jamie Joi-Ann Stubbs) of Cass City; grandson, Jesse Allen Merchant; granddaughters: Alexandria Mary Tilt, Claire Elise Merchant; sister, Charlotte Ann Conaway; brother, Paul Lindsay; in-laws: Joyce (Clinton) Esckilson, Ruth (Gerald) Whittaker, Marlene “Cookie” Merchant, JoAn Merchant; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Joanie is predeceased by her parents Alex and Naomi (Arloa) Lindsay; brothers-in-law: Wayne Conaway, Jim Merchant, William Merchant; sister-in-law, Jacque (Gabbert) Lindsay; nephew, Dan Conaway; former spouse, Allen John Merchant.
The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Americans Home Health and Hospice Care, specifically to hospice nurse, Heather Ann Pemble and Lindie Vandeberghe. Also, to cousin Betty Powell and hospice nurse, Richelle LeValley. All of them took loving care of Joanie in her final days on Earth.
Funeral service held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Cass City United Methodist Church with Pastor Bob Demyanovich officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery in the spring. Memorials may be made to the family to be used for a donation at a later date.
Visitation: 3 pm to 8pm Friday, March 17, 2023 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
1 pm to 2 pm Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Cass City Methodist Church
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
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