Joanne Milewski

Joanne Milewski was a woman who seemed to have more hours in the day than the rest of us, more time, energy and enthusiasm for life, which filled all those around her. She was a true matriarch, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who loved and led her family with all her heart. “Leave the world a better place than when you came in,” she always said. To those blessed enough to know her, Joanne most certainly did.

Joanne’s story began on a hot summer day in 1936, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were such difficult times, as the Great Depression continued its grip on the country. Yet on July 24, 1936, John and Isabelle (Warner) Dietrich found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of their first child, a beautiful baby girl they named Joanne Bernadette Dietrich.

Joanne would be joined by four little siblings over the years, first by her baby brother James, and later by Jacklyn, Jerry and Janet. She and James were very close, more like friends than siblings, while the youngest three were much younger, and Joanne was often (begrudgingly) charged with babysitting them. Though they could often be “little pests,” Joanne loved them all the same, and took them to the circus, or shopping with her.

The family lived near Spencer and Lafayette Streets, on the city’s northeast side, where she would live most of her life. Joanne’s parents instilled their strong values and faith in their children, and they loyally attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Joanne’s faith became the center of her life, as well as her moral compass.

The family did much together when she was young, especially their many beloved trips to the Lake Michigan shoreline, where they rented cottages for a few weeks every summer, and where she formed a lifelong love for the beach and the water.

Joanne was a very popular girl when she was in school, with many friends, and eventually graduated from Catholic Central High School. After graduating, Joanne began working as a teller at Old Kent Bank. It was her personal life that was about to get more interesting, however.

One day she met a handsome young man named Ben Milewski, whose parents moved in two doors down from her parents’ home. Ben had just been discharged from the Navy, and he and Joanne really hit it off and soon began dating. On April 14, 1956, Joanne and Ben were married, beginning a wonderful, lifelong companionship.

Joanne soon went to work in the kitchen at the Michigan Veteran’s Home, where Ben worked, as well. The couple lived in one of the houses on the property, where they soon started their family, as well. Joanne and Ben were blessed with four terrific children over the years, daughters Denise, Chris and Mary, and their son Matt.

Their kids grew up with the Veteran’s Home grounds as their playground, and fondly remember visiting their mom in the kitchen, where she’d sneak them a snack or two. They were a very close-knit family, and Joanne made sure they spent plenty of quality time together. Just as she did as a kid, Joanne and her family often headed off to Grand Haven, to enjoy the secluded North Shore Beach together.

Joanne was a wonderful wife and mother, and when her kids were growing up, she worked part-time at the Veteran’s Home to devote her attention to them. She instilled her children with the same character and faith she had in such abundance, teaching them to be grateful for their many blessings, and to share them with others. She often “volunteered” her kids for various charitable tasks in the church, and made sure they attended Mass faithfully, as well.

Joanne was unquestionably the family matriarch, too. She was always in charge and loved to plan events. She was always planning something, or helping with an event. If you thought about an idea, she ran with it and would make it happen, always with a grandiose flair. But she didn’t do it by herself — she was a master of delegating tasks — and she was a hard person to say no to. Joanne put all her energy into whatever she was doing, with a “get on board, or out of the way” attitude.

She always rallied the family around each other, as well. When her daughter wanted to start an Art Academy, she enlisted the whole family to help. Not only did it provide Joanne with a number of organizing tasks, but she also then took art instruction, too, where her creativity shone through.

Joanne’s favorite events to plan were the many fantastic trips they took over the years. She was passionate about traveling, and traveled all over the world with many different people, from her kids, grandkids and siblings, to her many friends she made. Some of her favorite places were Spain, Ireland and Scotland, and in 2005, the family took a terrific Caribbean cruise together.

Joanne and Ben divorced after 25 years together, though they remained so close the rest of their lives, and Ben even lived next door to Joanne later on, lovingly caring for each other. Joanne also loved being a grandmother, who doted on her grandkids, making sure she took each of them on a special trip together. She continued to plan short trips for family, like shopping excursions to Chicago.

Joanne was such an outgoing, vivacious and energetic lady, very considerate and kind, but also a woman of great conviction and character. She loved to laugh, and enjoyed every minute of her lifetime.

Sadly, Joanne died on Sunday, July 29, 2007, in the loving arms of her family, at the age of 71.

Joanne was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of faith, fond memories, and especially family. “Leave the world a better place than when you came in,” she always said. We were so much better for knowing her. She will be so greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Christopher; by her sister Jacklyn Burton and her brother Jerry Dietrich, and her son-in-law “Bubba” VanDenBerg. Joanne is survived by her husband, Ben; their children Denise and Jim Van Keuren, Chris and Joe Diskey, Matt and Kathleen Milewski, and Mary VanDenBerg; grandchildren Nicole Hutchins, Lindsey Van Keuren, Derek (Jessica) Hutchins, David Hutchins, Danielle Van Keuren, Joshua and Megan McLean, Cameron VanDenBerg; great grandchildren Tucker and Cali Hutchins; her brother, James (Judy) Dietrich and her sister Janet (Bill) Burns, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Corky and Janet Milewski, Gloria Schmuck, Mary and Jim Schmuck, Don and Patricia Drake, Bill and Andrea Stoddard; as well as several nieces, nephews and many special friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 1 PM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Relatives and friends may visit with her family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE on Monday from 7-9 PM and on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM with a time for sharing memories at 8:00 PM. Joanne requested that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Susan B. Komen Foundation or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. You may read more about her life, share a favorite memory, or sign the online register by visiting www.lifestorynet.com.