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Joan Noteboom

September 18, 1925 - May 4, 2022
Kalamazoo, MI

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Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Centrica Care Navigators
7100 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 345-0273
Driving Directions
Web Site

Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes
901 Portage Street
Kalamlazoo, MI 49001
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Taylor's Florist and Gifts
215 E. Michigan Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-6256
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Joan Noteboom was a hard-working wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She left this world peacefully and surrounded by family after a brief illness on May 4th, 2022, at the age of 96.

Joan was born to Otto and Clara Faye Barnes on September 18, 1925. Raised on a farm in Kalamazoo, she graduated from Kalamazoo Central in 1942 after beginning her education in a one-room schoolhouse. Upon graduation, Joan began working at Michigan Bell Telephone Company, where she would go on to meet her lifelong friend of 80 years, Charlotte Sonnevil, who introduced her to her beloved husband of 64 years, Francis P. Noteboom.

With their marriage came four wonderful children: Daniel, Steven, Nancy, and Robert, as well as four grandchildren; Angela, Katherine, Sarah, Alex, and seven great grandchildren.

Joan cherished spending time with her family, riding her John Deere tractor, maintaining her beautiful yard, and dedicating her time as a volunteer through the Borgess Service League for 30 years. She also loved traveling the world with her husband and travel partner Francis to destinations including Australia, Alaska, Ireland, The Panama Canal, a cruise through the Southern Caribbean, and annual trips to Gulf Shores, Alabama upon their retirement in 1987. Prior to her retirement, she spent 20 years working in the registrar’s office at Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, where she was one of very few registrars of an accredited college without the benefit of a degree of her own.

Always the early riser, Joan continued to wake up at five o’clock in the morning and have her daily chores done before most people were awake until shortly before her final days. You could take the girl away from the farm, but you could never take the hard-working farmer's mentality away from the girl. When she wasn’t working, Joan enjoyed going dancing on Saturdays with Francis as officers of the Parchment Dance Club, as well as attending meetings and events for the First Community Credit Union, where Francis served as president of the Board of Directors.

Joan was an incredibly hard working, supportive, and selfless matriarch of a family with a keen sense of humor. As the sole proprietor of a restaurant known only to her grandchildren as Jo’s Diner, she was known to have the best burgers and malt shakes in town.

While Joan will be missed by all, the family is at peace and happy knowing she is reunited with the love of her life, Francis.

Joan is survived by her sons; Daniel (Margaret) Noteboom, Steven (Patricia) Noteboom, Robert Noteboom; her daughter, Nancy (Randy) Rogers; and her grandchildren Angela (Justin) Dwyer, Katherine Giambrone, Sarah (Daniel) Scholten, and Alex Rogers; and seven great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Clara Faye Barnes, and her siblings Sherwood, Mary Ellen and Donald.

A private memorial service and burial will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery where Joan will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, followed by a celebration of life to be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes or Centrica Care Navigators.

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