JoAnn Danley

JoAnn Danley passed away on September 29, 2017 at the age of 69.  She was born to James "Wheeler" and Connie (Yeary) Brown on December 17, 1947 in Middlesboro, Kentucky.  She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law R.C. “Doc” and Gladys (Finn) Danley, and her husband and love of her life, William Danley, with whom she would have celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary next October 12th.

In 1952, the coal-miner’s daughter and her family moved from the hollers of Kentucky to Tecumseh, Mich.  After graduating from Tecumseh High School in 1966, JoAnn found work as a Bank Teller at United Bank & Trust.  While employed with UB&T, a charming executive named Bill Danley persistently pursued her; JoAnn would eventually succumb to his “charisma” and eventually agreed to go on a date, the rest is history.  Once being asked what her higher calling was, she responded, “I always felt that God wanted me to be a wife and mother, that’s all I ever wanted. I love kids.  I’m so thankful that God gave me four beautiful healthy boys”

 JoAnn helped support the family business, The Country House Restaurant, in countless ways. She once estimated that she washed and folded nearly a million cloth napkins in her life time; Bill would argue it was only a half million.  A woman of many talents, she was able to spend endless hours working in her garden or mowing the lawn, wallpapering bathrooms, or shuttling around her grandchildren all while still making it to her afternoon glass of pinot with her friends. Always one to put her sense of style to work, she once convinced her husband and four boys that wearing acid washed jeans and red cable-knit sweaters in a family photo would look classy and timeless. Her greatest talent, however, was being a loving wife, supportive and caring mother, and a loyal friend. She was as compassionate and kind on the inside as she was beautiful on the outside. After patiently enduring the crazy exploits of raising four sons, she was eventually rewarded with eight grandchildren, six of which were girls, and all of whom she loved and adored.

 JoAnn will be greatly missed and is survived by sons Jeff (Jennifer) Danley, Marc (Mindy) Danley, Jake Danley, and Joe (Melanie) Danley; grandchildren, Madelyn, Jackson, Chloe, Sadie, Amelia, Maxwell, Josephine, and Mabel Danley; her brother Jim (Stephanie) Brown, sisters-in-law, Jeanne (Bill) Rouppas and Linda (Clark) Danley. She leaves behind countless other friends and family who will miss her kindheartedness and generosity.

 Visitation with the family was held on Tuesday, Oct. 3,, 2017 at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Home from 3 to 8 p.m. Memorial service for JoAnn was held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 at the Tecumseh United Methodist Church at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of JoAnn to Hospice of Lenawee, the Croswell Opera House or Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.handlerfuneralhomes.com.