Chelsea, MI, formerly of Ypsilanti, age 87, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Arbor Hospice Residence in Ann Arbor. She was born September 18, 1929 in Springfield, MO, the daughter of Oscar P.M. & Esther L. (Gane) Ohlson. Joan worked for Judge Shea at the 14A District Court, Washtenaw County from 1974 until her retirement. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, and attended the First Congregational Church of Chelsea. Joan volunteered at the Lutheran Church’s “Clothes Closet”. She had a lot of friends at the Pines in Chelsea, where she lived for the past year. Joan was a good cook. She enjoyed square dancing and crocheting baby blankets for gifts.
On November 19, 1949, she married Ralph C. Bright in Salina, Kansas, and he preceded her in death on June 24, 2013. Survivors include two daughters, Carol (Tom) Voigt of Pataskala, OH, Kathy (Steve) Piatt of Pinckney; two grandchildren, Katie, Nick; 3 great-grandchildren, Dylan, Madison, and Adrianna. She was preceded in death by a brother, Derald Ohlson.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2:00 pm at Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 11-2:00 pm. A private burial will take place at Washtenong Memorial Park in Ann Arbor. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.