JoAnn Varsa Doehring was born on December 6, 1924 to Stephen William and Carrie (Sugden) Beck in Hebron, Nebraska. She passed away on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at the Evangelical Home in Saline, Michigan after sustaining a broken hip at the age of 88 years.

She graduated from Hebron High School in 1942 and went on to nursing school at Lincoln General Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. Upon graduating with her RN, she accepted a job offer from her uncle to work in his pediatrician's office in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. JoAnn meet John F. Varsa and they were married on October 4, 1947 at Christ Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan.

JoAnn and John with their two children, Jan (Hartmann) and Steven moved to Hillsdale in 1953. JoAnn was active in the community of Hillsdale by serving on the boards of the Red Cross and Salvation Army. She was active in the Gier School PTA and as a volunteer poll worker for elections. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hillsdale and enjoyed playing in the hand bell choir, attending Bible Study classes, and participating in the UMW and all philanthropic projects. JoAnn loved to read, travel, and share time with family and friends.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Varsa in 1985 and her son Steven John Varsa of Port Orchard, Washington in 2003.

She is survived by her husband Arlo Doehing of Superior, Nebraka; daughter Jan Hartmann (Dave) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, her granddaughters, Kristin Burda (Scott) of Frankfort, Illinois and Karen Hartmann (Paige) of St. Louis Park, Minnesota and her great-grandchildren Jackson and Audrey Burda.

Cremation has taken place and internment will occur this spring in Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 45 N. Manning, Hillsdale, Michigan


Megrue-Price Funeral Home