Joanne Lee Hegener

Joanne was born in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Ann Arbor High School & later from Eastern Michigan University, where she met her future husband, John Hegener. They were married at the beginning of their senior year on 9/6/65.

They had 2 children Allen Hegener & Laurie Strickland & family moved to Sarasota in 1967.

Joanne taught at Out of Door Academy. She also taught children of missionaries, with her husband, in the Philippines under New Tribes (ETHNOS) in 1988-89. She was a reading teacher at Camp Chimney Rock in North Carolina. She traveled to all 50 states in the United States & went on 21 cruises.

She was a den mother, Girl Scout leader, Sunday school & Vacation Bible School teacher. She was president of her sorority chapter & Sea Grapes Garden Club. She was a member of the Audubon Society & Appalachian Trail Club of Florida & served as a board member of her condo association, Lakeshore Village. She was a member of Covenant Life Church, Grace Baptist Church & later in life attended the Sunnyside Chapel.

Joanne is survived by her son, Allen Hegener (Paige) & daughter, Laurie Strickland (Alex Telles) & 4 grandchildren: Winston Hegener (Stephanie), Olivia Stephens (Bob) Nicholas “Nico” Telles, Hannah McDurfee (Brett) & 5 great grandchildren: Christian John & Kinley Hegener, Luke & Charlotte Stephens & Bennett McDurfee.

She also leaves a sister, Margaret Hartford (Tom) of Bryant Pond Maine, a sister-in-law, Pam Bateson of Ann Arbor, Michigan & nieces and nephews. Joanne was predeceased by her parents, Ernest & Marion Bateson & her brother, Ernest Karl Bateson.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Sunnyside Chapel, Sunnyside Village, 5201 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota FL 34232 at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 12/13/25.

Memorial gifts in her memory can be made to:

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc, PO Box 2000, Boys Ranch FL 32064-9984