Obituaries

JoAnna Zobel went to be with her late husband, Bill on the day of their 60th wedding anniversary. She was born in Stinking Creek, Tennessee to the late Leonard and Teresa Bruce and was the youngest of eleven children. 



After graduating from high school, JoAnna taught at the Tennessee School for the Deaf before moving to Michigan where she began working as a bookkeeper at W.D. Zobel Company. It was here that she met the love of her life, Bill. They married November 7, 1958, and settled in Troy, Michigan where they raised their six children together. After retirement, Bill and JoAnna spent their winters in Anna Maria, Florida where she enjoyed beachcombing and looking for the perfect seashell. She and Bill enjoyed sunset walks along the beach most every evening. JoAnna loved singing, reading, gardening, volunteering, yoga and cooking. But her greatest joy was spending time with her husband and children. 



Beloved mother of Bradley of Troy, Donna Lee Zobel (Robert Stork) of Saginaw, Bryan of Troy, Grant “Gus” (Laura) of Warren, Steven (April) of Westerville, Ohio and Eric of Ann Arbor. Also survived by a sister, Bertha Vazzana of Knoxville, Tennessee, three sisters-in-law Betty Bruce of Augusta, Georgia, Lupe Bruce of Longview, Washington, and Kathryn Bruce of Knoxville, Tennessee, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill; brothers; Lawrence, Willard, Howard and John; sisters; Leona VonBrethorst, Ava Branum, Vida Gaylor, Audrey Bradley and Wilma Johnson. 

Family will receive friends on Friday, November 9, from 2-8pm at A.J. Desmond and Sons Price Chapel, 3725 Rochester Rd., Troy (between Big Beaver and Wattles). A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 10 at 11am at the funeral home. Visitation on Saturday begins at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in JoAnna’s name to the Michigan Nature Association or the Salvation Army. 



The family would like to thank Residential Hospice for their loving care of JoAnna.