Joanne Leach

Loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend passed away on May 18, 2018, at the age of 88 years. The daughter of the late Rev. Louis Wagoner and Rev. Dorothy (Ellis) Wagoner was born January 7, 1930, in Wabash, Indiana. She moved with her parents to Saginaw, Michigan at the age six. She married the love of her life, William "Bill" Leach on June 20, 1947; he predeceased her on November 9, 2009. Joanne loved music and was a talented musician. She served over 50 years playing piano/organ and was Music Director for several years at First Church of God in Saginaw. She was also a retired music teacher, having taught in the studios of Art Galonska, Jack Gridley, Ed Higgens and at home, for many years. She played overtures for the Town Hall series at the Saginaw Civic Center for ten years until the series ended. Her great joy was playing the beautiful Barton pipe organ before many events at the Temple Theatre from 1981 until 2017 when she suddenly became ill. She also enjoyed playing the organ at the Church of God State Camp meeting in St. Louis, Michigan for many years. Joanne also volunteered for services at the City Rescue Mission, HealthSource Saginaw and Edgewood Assisted Living Center. She dearly loved her special friends Barbara Herm, Mark and Peggy Rose, "adopted" daughter, Debbie Houston Gaitor, talented former student Patrick Portner, and a former son-in-law, Phil Harris. She leaves behind a son, Michael (Kim) Leach; a daughter, Shelley (Steve) Rusk; grandchildren, Krystal (Daniel) Peterson, Katie (Dustin Crawford) Ellis, Evan Leach; step-grandson, Brent Phillips; beloved niece, Carol Spann; special great-nephew, Timothy (Laura) Spann; a great-great niece, Faith Spann; nieces, Heather Gosen, Rosalyn (Gary) Frederickson; a previous daughter-in-law, Annette (John) Hamberg; and many other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Jean Cook. Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2018 at First Church of God 1834 N. Charles. Rev. David Van Norman will officiate with burial to follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may visit with the family at W.L. Case & Company 4480 Mackinaw Rd. on Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and again at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the Temple Theatre Organ Club c/o Charles Rath 3901 Lee Hill Road Mayville, MI 48744.

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603