Joanne L. LaMarre

Joanne L. LaMarre, 62, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at Lakeland Continuing Care Center in Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church 619 Market St., in St. Joseph with Pastor Thomas Batsky officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or the American Cancers Society. Those wishing to share a memory of Joanne may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Joanne was born February 26, 1949 in Galien, MI to Walter & Aileen (Klukas) Nimtz. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1967. Then attend Lake Michigan College and Western Michigan where she graduated in 1971. On July 1, 1972 she married Leslie “Les” LaMarre in St. Joseph. Joanne worked as a teacher for Galien High School for 14 years. She was also Co-owner and Secretary for Top Notch in Benton Harbor. In her spare time she enjoyed cross stitch, Irish and Scottish music festivals, and going to Canada to the music festival which was held on their anniversary every year. She also loved reading and belonged to a mystery book club. Joanne is survived by her husband Leslie “Les” LaMarre of St. Joseph; Joanne was preceded in death by her parents and mother-in-law Shirley LaMarre and father-in-law Eldon LaMarre. Joanne’s final parting wish was to keep encouraging her chemo buddies to always keep fighting.