Joan (Bassney) Whitehead
ATLANTIC MINE / ISHPEMING — Joan Marie Ruth Bassney Whitehead, 80, longtime Atlantic Mine resident, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Mission Point of Ishpeming, due to complications from COVID-19.
Joan was born April 18, 1940, in Corning, New York, to S. William and Catherine (Klock) Bassney, attended school in Painted Post, New York, and graduated in 1958. After high school, Joan attended St. James Mercy Hospital School of Nursing at Hornell, before leaving to start a family.
Joan was a devoted spouse to her husband, Donald Whitehead, Sr., and a loving mother to all her children. Upon Don’s retirement in 2000, they moved to Atlantic Mine, to live full time on the rural property they purchased in 1992. Don and Joan were married on September 19, 1959, at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Almond, New York.
Joan enjoyed spinning fleece/wool, knitting and was an ardent lover of books and reading. She had a lifelong desire to educate herself and was always pursuing some level of educational enrichment. She enjoyed being outside with her prized llamas and sheep, loved many dogs and cats over the years and always enjoyed spending time with her family at the “Wildflower Farm.” She shared a passion for watching the birds and wildlife that surrounded their home with Don.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by her six children, Christina (Gary) Garland of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tim Whitehead and family of Entiat, Washington, Donald (Alisa DeRider) Whitehead of Duluth, Minnesota, Colleen Whitehead of Ishpeming, Charleen Kehoe of East Gull Lake, Minnesota, and Catrina (Roger) Robbins of Hawthorne, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; two brothers, Mike (wife, Carol) Bassney of Lodi, Wisconsin and Peter (wife, Beth) Bassney of Wasilla, Alaska; and a sister, Cathie (Bassney) (husband, Tim) Paul, of Galeton, Pennsylvania.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Whitehead, Sr.; her parents; a daughter, Colette Whitehead; and a son, Robert Whitehead.
Honoring Joan’s wishes, private family services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) at upaws.org.
Mrs. Whitehead’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com, where memories and condolences may be shared.