Joann Marie Cleary

Joann M. Cleary, age 86 of Minden City, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2020 at Autumnwood in Deckerville surrounded by her family.

She was the fourth of thirteen children born to the late Roman and Clara (Kirsh) Messing on September 14, 1934. She married Gerald Raymond Cleary on June 21, 1958 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Ruth.

Joann had a heart of gold. She was a loving kind-hearted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a graduate of Ruth Sts. Peter & Paul in 1952. Following graduation, she pursued a career in banking where she was employed at several local area banks. After 41 years in the banking business, she retired in 1996.

Joann enjoyed traveling around the world, feeding and watching her wild birds, putting puzzles together with her grandchildren, and playing cards with family members, neighbors, and friends. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Joann’s favorite holiday was Christmas and she loved decorating for it. She made it a point to always make it extra special for her grandchildren when they were younger by having Santa Claus make a special visit to her house every Christmas Eve. She will truly be missed.

Joann is survived by her husband, Jake of 62 years, her 6 children: Colleen Masadas of Oakley, CA, Bonnie Hanson of Port Huron, Bob Cleary (Deanna Sweeney) of Minden City, Rick Cleary of Howell, Nancy (Joe) Booms of Ubly, and Barb (Rich) Maurer of Bad Axe, 20 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, her sisters Mary June Eidenberger of Sisters, OR, Estelle (Eugene) Wagg of Folsom, CA, Elaine (Eugene) Mazure of Ubly, Erma (Marvin) Cook of Ubly, Margie (Bob) Susalla of Clio, Janet (Jim) Thomas of Folsom, CA, her brothers Jerome (Judy) Messing of Ubly, Richard (Jane) Messing of Harbor Beach, Willard (Diane) Messing of Minden City, and her sisters and brothers-in-law; Margie Messing of Minden City, Shirley Messing of Ruth, Karen Cleary of Rochester Hills, Marian Wodwaska of Bad Axe, John and Elaine Vogel of Palms, Ken and Marla Cleary of Imlay City. She was preceded in death by her parents Roman and Clara Messing, her father and mother-in-law Raymond and Lydia Cleary, her brothers Edward Messing, Alan Messing, Herb Messing, her sisters and brothers-in-law Phyllis Messing, Sheila Messing, Bob Eidenberger, Arnold Wodwaska, Ralph Cleary, and her sons-in-law Bill Masadas and Bryce Hanson.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday December 23, 2020 at 11:00am at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Ruth. Burial will take place in the spring. Visitation will be Tuesday December 22, 2020 at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home of Ubly from 1:00pm to 9:00pm and on Wednesday at the church from 10:00-10:45 am. There will be a rosary recited at 4:00 pm Tuesday by the Holy Apostles Christian Mothers and a parish vigil service at 7:00 pm. Both services will be at the funeral home.

The Family of Joann would like to extend a special thank you to all of the staff at Autumnwood of Deckerville for their loving care of Joann while she resided there over the last year and a half.

Memorial donations for Joann can be directed to her husband, Jake.