Joan Therese (Vieth) Champeau, 97, of Sister Bay, passed away peacefully, Friday morning, December 1, 2023.
She was born November 9, 1926, in Menominee, Michigan, the daughter of Otto Gustave Vieth and Angeline Rose (L’Hote) Vieth. Joan graduated from Menominee High School with the class of 1944.
On October 1, 1949, Joan married James “Jim” Victor Champeau at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor. Jim preceded her in death on December 31, 2012.
While Joan’s family is grieving their loss, they are comforted by the fact that their mother has been reunited with their father in heaven.
A pioneer of the arts in Door County, with deep roots in Sister Bay, Joan was accomplished in many things. She was a musician, artist, and business owner; passionate and successful in every endeavor she pursued. Joan’s life was full and exciting from beginning to end. She had the opportunity to travel to several countries, played the organ and piano for St. Rosalia Catholic Church in Sister Bay, encouraged and mentored aspiring artists, managed her brother’s restaurant, ran her own art gallery, and recreationally swam and downhill skied as often as she could. All this while raising four children.
Joan's love will live on in the hearts of her four children, Nannette Champeau, Roberta (Don Bumpus) Champeau, Marc (Carol) Champeau, and Patrice (Eric Smith) Champeau; three grandchildren, Claire Erickson and Anders (fiancée, Azusa Inaba) Erickson, and Genevieve Pelrine; great-grandson, Parker Rowe; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Victor and Wilhemina “Minnie” (Kodanko) husband; siblings, Johnny (Corrine) Vieth, Patricia (Robert) Sunstrom, and Paul Vieth; and other relatives.
Joan’s life will be honored with Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Stella Maris Parish-Sister Bay site with Fr. Thomas Farrell as celebrant. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Jim, at the memorial wall in St. Rosalia Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Memorials may be given in Joan's name for the Sister Bay Historical Society, The Clearing, or the Peninsula Music Festival.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Martha Coventry for the love and care given to Joan at the Hearthside in Sister Bay.
Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sister Bay is assisting the Champeau family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.
