Joan Patrice Tharp

Joan Patrice Tharp passed away February 26, 2019 at the age of 59. Joan was born in Ann Arbor, MI to James and Evelyn (Armstrong) Bruetsch. She spent her school age years in Okemos, where she made lifelong friends. She enjoyed summers swimming in the pool and canoeing as well as spending her winters ice skating and tobogganing. She graduated from CMU with a degree in accounting. She enjoyed her career later in life at the State of Michigan working as a legal secretary but found great happiness in transferring to the Department of Health and Human Services in Roscommon for the last two years. She loved the peacefulness of being “up north” and enjoyed the lifestyle she created with her husband of 19 years, Mark. Throughout her life, she enjoyed many activities including swimming, arts and crafts, shopping, snowmobiling, riding her motorcycle, cuddling and caring for her kitties and most of all, spending time with her family and friends over a meal to share laughter and love.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, James and Evelyn Bruetsch, sister Diane Bruetsch, brother-in-law Jack Clarno, cousins Jim McCown and Bill Meyer as well as her beloved cats Callie Cat, Bo Dude, Tarzan and Lil Bit. She is survived by her husband, Mark Tharp, daughter Jolaine (Jeremy) Davis, and her grandchildren Dominick Davis, Abigail Warren, Lucas Davis and Lillian Davis. Treasured extended family include cousin Dawn Meyer, sister-in-laws Darlene Clarno and Juanita (Zane) Johnson, nieces and nephews Curt (Sheri) Clarno, Pat (Liz) Clarno, Kevin Clarno, Terri (Scott) Guzzy, Thomas (Ashley) Clarno, Dustin (Ashlee) Clarno, Alissa Clarno, along with countless friends.

Joan will be remembered by her friends and family as an avid reader, an animal lover, a woman of faith with a caring heart and a smile to match. A loyal and loving wife, friend and dedicated Grammy to her grandbabies; Joan will be missed forever.

A funeral service will be held Monday, March 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, MI. The family will receive friends Sunday, March 3, from 3-6 p.m. and Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Joan may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society, 7095 West Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906 (cahs-lansing.com) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).