Joan Mary Hawkins

Joan Mary (Michiels) Hawkins, 87, of St. Joseph, MI passed away Monday, September 10, 2018 at her home. No service or visitation has been planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services 556-9450.  Those wishing to share a memory of Joan online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Joan was born on February 14, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to Albert and Pauline (Van Eyck) Michiels.  After graduating High School she studied Literature and Botany.  Soon Joan married her one true love, Robert Earl Hawkins.  As a new bride cooking was not one of her strengths so she watched and learned from Julia Child.  Everyone in the household was required to “Hush” during show times. Dinner was really something to look forward in her house.  She and Robert made their home in the dunes where they could view the lake from one side and the dunes on the other.  It was there she spent hours under a skylight, carding, spinning and weaving rough raw wools into finished fabrics.  Joan also loved ceramics, throwing countless stoneware bowls. She was carried away on a late afternoon sunbeam to join her husband of sixty-six years.  Joan was an excellent wife and mother and will be dearly missed.                Joan is survived by her three sons, Bruce Hawkins of St. Joseph, MI, Gary (Jane) Hawkins of Hinsdale, IL, and Joel (Mary) Hawkins of Old Lyme, CT; three grandchildren, Abigail Hawkins, Grant (Gabrielle) Hawkins and Ian Hawkins; sister, Patricia Pavlik and brother, Joseph Michiels. Joan was preceded by her parents; husband, Robert; sister, Mary Helen Ladner and brother, Tom Michiels.