Joseph VanLaanen

He was born in Iron Mountain, Mich., on July 2, 1957, the first-born son of the late William “Bill” and Lorraine (Morin) VanLaanen.

He was proud to have grown up in the “Kingsford Heights” and attended many Heights reunions held at Cowboy Lake. He attended and graduated from Kingsford High School in 1970.

He was drafted into the service on Sept. 26, 1972, and completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and was discharged from service in 1974.

He married the former Vickie Pirlot on June 3, 1978; after 33 years of marriage, they went their separate ways in 2011.

He worked at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, starting in 1981 as part-time, but worked the majority of his years there in the food service department, retiring in 2005.

In his free time he enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and the Green Bay Packers on TV.

In the summer months he like to travel the U.P. with his family, trying to camp at almost all the U.P. state parks and hoping to see the ever-elusive moose.

He also enjoyed attending the ski jumps every year and socializing with friends and family that he saw there.

He is survived by his daughter, Ann VanLaanen of Iron Mountain, and his son, John VanLaanen of Kingsford; his grandchildren, Ashlyn VanLaanen and Sebastian Young; and a brother, Robert “Bob” VanLaanen of Iron Mountain.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine, in 1977; and his father, William “Bill,” in 1995.

In accordance with Joseph’s wishes, no funeral services will be held.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Joseph H. VanLaanen online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.