Beverly JoAnn (Rapson) Tippie, age 77, of Pickford, Michigan, passed away on December 27, 2024, at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey, Michigan. JoAnn was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on March 5, 1947, to Robert and Dorothy (Izzard) Rapson.
JoAnn was raised on the Rapson family farm on Pennington Road, in Pickford. When JoAnn was three, her father Robert passed away, leaving the family to work on the farm. When she was five years old, her mother married William “Bill” Skinner, and they continued to live on the farm until Bill and Dorothy bought the Russell Izzard farm on M-48. She lived there until she graduated from Pickford High School with the Class of 1965. Her stepdad Bill’s favorite nickname for her was “Smokey Joe”. JoAnn met the love of her life, John Tippie, and they married in 1965 at the chapel on the Kincheloe Air Force Base.
They moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and started their family and careers. She worked at Yamaha Musical Instruments for twenty years and John worked at Haworth. After they retired, they bought an RV and traveled the county for seven years, while their son-in-law was in the United States Air Force. They moved to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for several years, and in 2010 they moved to Cabot, Arizona, to be closer to their daughter and her family until their son-in-law retired from the Air Force. She moved back to Pickford in 2018 to be closer to her family.
JoAnn loved to spend time with her family and grandchildren. She could be found taking long walks along Fairview Road, working in her flower garden, or reading.
JoAnn is survived by her children, Dean Tippie of Middleville, Michigan, Kristina (Terry) Mayle of Dafter, Michigan; grandchildren, Krisarrin Mayle and Terrance Mayle, both of Dafter; and siblings, Ronald Rapson of Alto, Michigan, Gloria Wilson and Terri Haute of Indiana, Robert (Lynn) Rapson of Sparta, Michigan, Marion (James) Hank of Sault Ste. Marie, William Skinner of Pickford, and James (Peggy) Skinner of Goetzville, Michigan.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, John Tippie, and parents, Robert Rapson, William Skinner, and Dorothy Skinner.
Memorial Contributions can be made to the Les Cheneaux Community Library, 75 E. Hodeck St., Cedarville, MI 49719.
Per JoAnn’s wishes, no services will be held.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
Obituary as submitted by family.
