Joan Jepkema

Passed away Tuesday June 3, 2025, with her family by her side. Joan was born on March 17, 1940, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late, Robert and Dorothy (Hindes) VanLandegent. Early in her life, Joan graduated from Kalamazoo Central High school and attended Western Michigan University. On October 9, 1959, Joan married the love of her life, Fred, who she met at an Allied Paper open house. For their honeymoon, they drove Route 66 in their '57 Mercury Convertible to Disneyland in California. Joan and Fred raised 4 children in a house on Crooked Lake, enjoying water play in the Summer and bundling the kids up in the Winter. In her free time, Joan liked gardening around that lake house and taking her beloved toy poodle, Suzette, swimming. In her younger days, Joan had fun bowling with her husband on a league, traveling with the whole family to Cedar Point each Summer, and camping in their pop-up camper. In later years, she was content to spend quiet days with her husband and her dog, Maggie, at home. Surviving Joan is her husband, Fred Jepkema; children, Steven Jepkema, Pamela (Hal) Navarre, Daniel Jepkema; brother Tom VanLandegent. Preceding her in passing are her parents and her son, Michael Jepkema. Friends are welcome to join the family for visitation on Wednesday June 11, 2025, from 12PM to 1PM at Langeland Family Funeral Home, 622 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. A funeral service will take place immediately following visitation at 1PM, with a graveside service at Mt Ever Rest Memorial Park, South (3941 South Westnedge Ave) to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Kairos Dwelling, 2945 Gull Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. (Kairosdwelling.com) To view Joan's personalized guestbook, please visit https://www.langelands.com