Joan Melrose

Joan Marie Melrose was a woman full of spunk. She loved to have fun, she always had energy to spare, and above all, she loved her family and cared for them to the best of her abilities. Joan knew how to get the most out of life. In the heat of a Michigan summer, and at the onset of the Great Depression, a time when the world could find no place to turn, H. Porter and Lorena (Best) Lange turned inward. On August 19, 1928, the couple welcomed their second child with great excitement. Joans mother worked as a licensed practical nurse, and her father whose nickname was Putt, operated the Lange Transfer Company. Eventually, they had a third child, and Joan was a wonderful sister to her older brother, Gordon and younger sister, Nancy. They had quite the fun childhood. Joan learned to play the piano and fell in love with it. She played for the rest of her life. After she graduated from Muskegon High School in 1946, Joan became a secretary at Shaw Walker. But it wasnt long afterward that she met Charlie. Charles Melrose, had just come back from the service and had decided to attend a local dance in Muskegon. Joan was there on that same night. The two had known each other in high school but at that dance is when sparks flew. They fell in love, and got married on July 3, 1948. Their honeymoon was on Mackinaw Island, and afterward the two found a small place and settled down. Soon, there was nothing settled about their home, what with five children in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house! Nevertheless, Mary Jo, Gregory, Beth, Susan and Robert each came into the world welcomed by love and joy. Joan quit work to take on the task of being a full-time mother, and shone at the position. Joan made sure the kids were always having fun. When she scrubbed the kitchen floors, she would line the chairs up and the kids would pretend they were on a train. They told her all about their trip and the different things they saw along the way! Often she and the kids would dance and sing together. The house was in Norton Shores and the kids loved to go running around in the woods. They kept quite busy! Joan gave unconditional love- but there were conditions attached! Joan was a very involved mother, she was a room mother for each of her children, and she was an active member of the PTA and even a Cub Scout leader! She was never without the energy to do something for her children. During holidays, Joan stepped up to the plate and played hostess to all her family members. Holiday dinners were always hosted at their house because they had the biggest family! The Melroses also loved to take camping trips to Silver Lake. Joan would stay up with the kids, while Charlie commuted to work! They also got to take special trips to Niagara Falls and the Upper Peninsula! Eventually, in the mid 70s they bought property on Lake Michigan in Montague, where they built their dream cottage. This provided years of memories filled with relaxation, simple pleasures and many family reunions. The cottage is still in the family today. As the kids grew, Joan worked as a secretary for Mona Shores Public Schools and she worked there for 20 years until her retirement in 1988.With such a wonderful upbringing, it is no surprise that all five kids graduated from Michigan State University, which, of course made Joan incredibly proud. When Joans kids had some kids of their own, she was thrilled. She loved being a grandmother, and spent a lot of time with them, rollerblading, jumping on the trampoline, and of course, playing piano and singing. She was such a wonderful presence in their lives. Joans faith was very important to her. She and Charlie were life long members at Samuel Lutheran Church. Here they belonged to a young couple group. They participated in potlucks and liked to play pinochle and bridge. The group stayed together for over 50 years! The two were very social, and also made friends as members of the Viking Lodge. In her own time, Joan was a part of the Greater Muskegon Womens club, loved to play golf, knit, do puzzles and play cards. She loved cards so much that when they were both retired, she and Charlie spent their winters in Destin, Florida and Barefoot Bay so they could be near Joans bridge group! Sadly, Charlie died in 2005, which was devastating to Joan. She lived alone for a time, but eventually moved into Seminole Shores Assisted Living Community. In order to keep her spirits up, she kept attending church so she could see her friends. Joan was diagnosed with cancer, and died on May 10, 2008. Joan was a woman who was up for anything. She loved her family, and spending time with them was one of her greatest joys in life. She always had something fun up her sleeve, and the memories of her will be cherished. Joan was a fabulous woman. Joans family includes: 5 Children , Mary Jo (Larry) Cox of Osceola, IN, Gregory Lee (Ingrid) Melrose of Houston, TX, Beth Ann (Philip) Neis of Norton Shores, Susan Nan (Jeffrey) Iovan of Bloomfield Hills, MI, Robert Andrew (Amy) Melrose of Bloomfield Hills, MI; 10 Grand Children, Karoline Melrose, Krista (Troy) Gillaspia, Karin (Drew) Helmey, Samuel Neis, Anna (Brian) Sinischo, Daniel Neis, Eric, Andrew & Rachel Iovan, Joseph Melrose; Brother Gordon (Barbara) Lange; Sister, Nancy Tousey. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Melrose. To learn more about Joans life, friends may visit with her family on Tuesday, May 13, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon location- Muskegon, MI. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Philip Nordstrand officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Please visit Joans personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to Harbor Hospice or Samuel Lutheran Church.