Cover photo for JoAnn Marie Melcher's Obituary
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1943 JoAnn 2024

JoAnn Marie Melcher

February 8, 1943 — October 25, 2024

JoAnn M. Melcher, 81, of Lake Villa, passed away on October 25, 2024, at Advocate Condell Medical Center after a hard-fought battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

She was born on February 8, 1943, in Mellen, Wisconsin, to Toivo Kangas and Ellen Miller. JoAnn worked very hard as a long-standing Post Office Clerk for 30 years in Waukegan and, in her free time and retirement, loved antiquing and collecting memorabilia. She also enjoyed reading and watching biographies, historical documentaries, politics, and any British mystery show available. While living in Missouri, she was a member of the Marble Hill Study Club, GFWC, with her mother, Ellen, and an active church member. 

JoAnn is survived by her daughter, Annette (Dennis) Cronin, stepson, Jack (Debbie) Melcher, and her stepdaughter, Bonnie Elsbury. Along with her grandchildren Lauren (Brian) Fish, Cierra Peters, Amber (Mike) Yocco, Joshua (Natalie) Melcher, Jonathon (Sarah) Melcher, Eric Elsbury, and her great-grandchildren River, Zoe, Veda, Daria, and Max Melcher, and Lucia Elsbury. As well as her stepbrother Chuck (Sharon) Miller, step-sisters Dori Miller, Barbara Savage, Ann Miller-Mitchell, her sister-in-law Sandra (Gary) Long, and several nieces and nephews. JoAnn was also blessed to have many life-long and close friends who added so much to her life. 

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Melcher; her son, Randy Peters; her mother and step-father, Ellen and Tom Miller; her father, Toivo Kangas; her brothers, Charlie, Bill, and Jerry Kangas.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Road, Zion. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 noon at the funeral home. Inurnment will occur during a private ceremony at a later date at Warren Cemetery in Gurnee. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Cancer Research Hospital have been suggested.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, November 2, 2024

10:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

Congdon & Co Funeral Directors

3012 Sheridan Rd, Zion, IL 60099

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Memorial Service

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Starts at 12:00 pm (Central time)

Congdon & Co Funeral Directors

3012 Sheridan Rd, Zion, IL 60099

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