Iron Mountain, MI – JoAnn M. Mallory, age 84, former Ishpeming resident, passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in the Emergency Room at Marshfield Medical Center Dickinson in Iron Mountain.

JoAnn was born in Hibbing, Minnesota on August 5, 1939, a daughter of the late Agnes (Sorci) and Robert Edward  Frank. She was a graduate of the Hibbing High School, class of 1957 and married Earl Mallory on May 3, 1958.  Together they moved to Ishpeming, with JoAnn working first in the Bakery at Joseph's Grocery Store, then at Al's Party Store and most notably as a catalog clerk in the Ishpeming Sears Store for many years.  JoAnn also worked as a teacher's aide in the Ishpeming School district along with patrolling the playground, where she was affectionately known as "Gramma".

JoAnn was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. She and Earl were members of the Retread Motorcycle Club and enjoyed traveling via motorcycle throughout the continental United States. JoAnn will be remembered as an outstanding Italian cook with some of her specialties being ravioli, porketta, patica and  biscotti. She lived by the motto "Food is Love" and was always prepared to feed the entire neighborhood.  Some of her other hobbies included knitting, gardening, canning and oil painting.

Survivors include her husband Earl E. Mallory,  daughter, MaryJo (Ed) Chaperon, son, Mark (Jena) Mallory all of Iron Mountain, sister, Barbara Jean of Hibbing, MN, 5 grandchildren - Amy (Jon) Cvengros, Edward (Rebecca) Chaperon, Kate (Michael) Pearson, Jacob (fiancée Chloe Woodward) Mallory, Emmett Mallory along with 7 great grandchildren - Hallie, Isabelle, Eddie, Jack, Nora, Pearl and Forest.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00am – 12:00pm on Friday, February 9, 2024, at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00PM with Fr. Ryan Ford to officiate. The Mass will be livestreamed at ishpemingcatholic.com/live A luncheon will follow the Mass in the K/D Hall.

JoAnn's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.