Joan Marie (Kangas) Johnson

Joan Marie Johnson (Kangas) of Mass City, Michigan passed away in Clarkston, Michigan on July 30, 2024, at 87 years of age. Joan was born on September 1, 1936, in Mass City to the late Samuel and Aili Kangas.

Joan spent many of her years growing up on the family farm off of the Firesteel Road. She graduated from Mass High School in 1954 where she played the snare drum in the band for several years. Joan’s father Samuel died at the age of 49, the same year that Joan graduated from High School. Joan was then raised by her Stepfather, Toivo Kangas, and her mother, Aili.  Joan went on to marry Erdvart (Everett) Johnson on November 20, 1954. They raised their 5 children in Waterford (formerly known as Drayton Plains) where they lived until Erdvart retired in 1989. After retirement they moved back to Mass City where they built their dream home from the ground up using Joan’s blueprints.  They lived on their 40-acre plot of land they purchased in 1967. Joan had a love of carpentry and working with wood. She was fiercely independent. After her husband’s death she maintained her property all by herself - mowing and plowing in the winters. Joan also loved gardening, canning, and cooking her famous pancakes and biscuits. Joan received the Ontonagon County Fair Homemaker of the Year Award in 1992. She enjoyed her nightly saunas and watching her hummingbirds. Joan painted, knitted, sewed and crocheted in her spare time. When others came to visit, Joan always brought out the cards; Aggravation, and Rummikub. Joan loved snowmobiling and her four-wheeler. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mass City. She loved her special dog, Basil – a beagle/dachshund mix. Joan often spoke about their trip to Finland, which for her was a very unforgettable event. Joan earned a degree in Social Work from Colombiere College in Clarkston, Michigan in her mid 40’s – she was so proud of this accomplishment. Joan lived a full and memorable life. Her family was everything to her. She never forgot to send her grandkids a handwritten letter on their birthdays which always included a crisp $5 bill. When the grandkids would come to visit, she had lots of exciting things for them to do including her dress up closet in the upstairs bedroom!

Joan is survived by her three brothers Edward, David and John and her three children Bruce, Keith (Beth), and Jim (Laura). Proud grandmother of her grandchildren Danielle, Valerie, Alyssa, Joanna, Brian, Keri, Rick, Brittany, Dan, Mike, Brad, Joe, Chelsea, Selena, Julianna, Bailey, Julian, Lily, Isaiah also many great grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Erdvart, her siblings Ruth, Lawrence, Mildred, her two daughters Charlene and Carol, as well as daughter-in-law, Cheryl.

There will be a graveside memorial in the future at Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.

Joan will live in our hearts and memories until we are all together again…we love you and will miss you so very much. 

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