Joanne Cupery

Joanne Cupery was a wonderful woman, who devoted her whole life to caring for those around her. She was a nurse by profession, yet she always had a way of making people feel better, with her hands as well as her heart, a heart she shared with all those around her.

Joanne’s story began on a warm summer day in 1932, in the charming city of Markesan, Wisconsin. Those were such difficult times for so many people in this country, which was caught in the teeth of the Great Depression. Yet on July 19, 1932, Lester and Anna Mae Krause found reason to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Joanne.

Joanne’s parents were the successful owners of Krause–Stahowiak Funeral Home in Markesan, and the family lived in the funeral home, as was customary. She would be joined by her little brother Robert when she was seven years old, and was a helpful big sister who looked after him when they were growing up. Perhaps from watching her parents help so many grieving families over the years, Joanne was raised with a natural compassion and empathy for those around her, traits which served her well her entire life.

She also possessed a natural musical talent, which became a lifelong passion for her, too. Joanne learned to play the violin beautifully, and even competed at the state level when she was in school. When she was a teenager, she and her friends would play impromptu concerts for five cents apiece, enough for a movie and some ice cream in those days!

Joanne attended Markesan High School, were she met a handsome young classmate named Peter Cupery. The two became high school sweethearts, and after they graduated, they both headed off to Holland, Michigan, to attend Hope College together. After a year at Hope, however, Joanne moved to Chicago, to finish her nursing training at Presbyterian Hospital. Her beloved Peter then joined the Marines, where he became an officer and pilot.

Their long-distance romance didn’t stay that way for long, however. The young couple was married on October 31, 1953, in their hometown of Markesan, and the newlyweds left for Hawaii the next day — not for a honeymoon, but because Peter was stationed there! They then lived in Japan for a year during his service, before moving back to Wisconsin while Peter went to law school and finished in the Marine Reserves.

Joanne worked as a surgical nurse in Wisconsin, and they settled in Ripon, Wisconsin and soon began to raise a family, too. The couple had three children there, sons Dave, Doug and Don, before the growing family packed up and moved back to Holland, where Peter began his law career.

In 1965, the couple rounded out their family with a baby girl named Jody. Sadly, just one month after she was born, Peter was flying a military jet for the Marine Reserves and was killed in a crash near O’Hare Airport. Joanne was left as a single mother of four small children to raise on her own. Always a woman of great strength and determination, Joanne persevered, and returned to work as a nurse in 1966 to make ends meet.

Joanne eventually remarried in 1970, though the marriage ended in divorce after seven years. She had plenty to keep her busy, and happy, with her loving family and her career as a nurse. She eventually began working as an occupational nurse at the Planters Life Savers plant in Holland, where she would finish her long nursing career.

Joanne was also a faithful member of the Christ Memorial Church in Holland, where she loved being a part of the church choir, one of her greatest passions. It was the perfect outlet for her deep love of music, and she was blessed with a beautiful voice, as well.

Joanne had other passions in her life, and loved to cook and tend to her beautiful garden. She also enjoyed traveling some in retirement, especially with her best friend, Sally Cooper. She and Sally visited Florida many times, and went on boat trips, too. They also enjoyed going shopping together, going out to dinner, or just to the movies, and some of her happiest times were spent with her dear friend.

Most of all, Joanne loved spending time with her children and especially, her five beloved grandchildren, and seeing them always brightened her days. She was a beloved grandmother, for her patience, and for her effervescent personality.

Sadly, Joanne’s health began to decline in 2007, and in February she went to live in Lakeside Vistas, where she passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 22, 2007, at the age of 75.

Joanne was a wonderful woman, a woman of such great patience, passion, and persistence. She was a nurse by trade and a caregiver by choice, as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Today her love, and her life, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Joanne is survived by her children, David Cupery, Douglas Cupery, Donald Cupery, and Jody and Dan Castillo of Holland; her five grandchildren: Erika, Kelsey and Max Castillo, Peter and Taylor Cupery, and her mother-in-law, Jennie DeJager of Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be held on Monday November 26 at 4:00pm at the Chapel of Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Road, Holland with Rev. Robert Nykamp officiating.

Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Holland High School Symphony Orchestra.

Burial will take place in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.

The family of Joanne would like to thank Dr. Roger Phillips and the staff of Hospice of Holland and also the staff at Lakeside Vista for their kind and gentle care during the past few months.

Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Downtown Chapel. To share a memory or photo of Joanne, or to sign the online guestbook, please visit her Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com