DELL (Garland) Joan Elizabeth

As we celebrate the life and limitless love of Joan Elizabeth Dell (Garland), we acknowledge that, while surrounded by her family, her battle with cancer ended on June 24, at St. Joseph, Michigan. She was predeceased by her parents Fred and Bell Garland, brother David, sister Judy Martyniuk and parents-in-law Fred and Mary Dell. Joan leaves, with broken hearts and priceless memories, her best friend and devoted husband Richard; loving daughters Shari (John) Teschke, Linda (Beat) Stocker; joyous grandchildren Alyse and Cosette Teschke and Matthew and Elizabeth Stocker; brothers Walter (Florence), Bob (Janet); sister-inlaw Diane Garland; brother-in-law John Martyniuk; a large number of nieces and nephews, her extended family, her church families and wide circle of friends. Born a British subject in the Dominion of Newfoundland, Joan became a Canadian citizen when Newfoundland became part of Canada. While still a Canadian citizen she worked for the United States North East Air Command at the Fort Pepperell Air Force Base. While working in the executive offices there, she received the highest security clearance available to any non-american personnel at that time. Later, along with her husband Richard, she moved to the New York state and obtained her United States Citizenship. During her career she worked in the food wholesale industry, construction industry and manufacturing sectors. She advanced through the administration and management ranks to a point of achieving the Vice President level. In her church she also accepted leadership roles at the local, national and international level. She served as an ordained Elder of her local church for a number of years. Joan had a strong faith and was a positive influence to all those she met. She was a tireless advocate for the equality of all women and a supporter of education and reading at all ages and possessed a practiced belief of giving to others. This is reflected in Joan’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Association of Adventist Women or the Lincoln Township Public Library. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI. Friends may visit with the family from 3-5 PM on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, with a celebration of life memorial service to follow at 5 PM at the funeral home. Joan’s family wishes to acknowledge the professionalism, kindness and compassion of Dr. Kozuh and the Oncology staff at Lakeland Medical Center.