Jean M. (LaFave) Paananen

Munising

Jean M. Paananen, age 91, of Munising, died Wednesday evening, November 6, 2019 at Medilodge of Munising.  She was born on November 28, 1927, in Munising, Michigan to the late William and Elizabeth (Hebert) LaFave.  Jean graduated from Sacred Heart School and then from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1945. She worked at the Delft Theater and for a short time at the Munising Paper Mill.  Jean married Charles Paananen on September 7, 1946 and together they raised their five children.  They purchased Charlie’s family farm in Chatham and began running the farm, and raising their family on Finn Spur Road for the next eight years.  In her younger years, Jean enjoyed bowling, swimming, hiking at Perch Lake, and ice skating.  Her family soon became her focus, and loved being surrounded by them.  Jean coordinated many memorable picnics, family card nights, and trips to visit all of the family camps throughout the summer.  As the years went on Jean’s family get-togethers would still revolve around card games and looking at slide shows of great family memories.  She had great sense of humor and could have her girls tearing up in laughter with her perfectly placed cliché or old time saying.  Jean was member of Sacred Heart Church and the National Catholic Society of Foresters.

She is survived by her children – Victoria “Diane” Waters of Marquette, Charla (Philip) Heiler of Westland, MI, and Richard (Jolene) Paananen of Munising; son-in-law – Tom Glatus of Rapid River; eleven grandchildren – Theresa, Kimberly, Tracy, Alan, Melissa, Brian, Alexander, Wesley, Richard, Troy, and Joseph; eleven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; sister – Ruth Carr; sister-in-law – Norma LaFave; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Jean was preceded in death by her parents – William and Elizabeth; husband – Charlie; daughters – Regina (Dennis) Adair and Kathy Glatus; grandson – Roger Adair; siblings – Derilda (Hank) Tussing, Exilda (Donovan) Theaker, Dorothy (Willie) Swajanen, Jack LaFave, Ernest “Shorty” LaFave, Lawrence “Stowe” (Maxine) LaFave, Robert “Mogie” LaFave, and infant twins; and brother-in-law – John Carr.

Visitation will be on Friday, November 8, 2019 at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.  A Parish Vigil Service will take place at 7:00 p.m.  Fr. Michael Ocran will celebrate Jean’s Mass on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.  Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery.