Joan H. Durham

Age 87 of Portage passed away Wednesday morning, November 12, 2025. Joan was born in Kalamazoo on June 15, 1938, the daughter of Zege and Thresa (Mazuchowski) Piotroski. On November 30, 1957, she married David Lee Durham who survives. Joan loved animals, especially dogs and cats. Over the years they had a menagerie of animals in their home. She dedicated her life to raising her family. In her spare time, she enjoyed visiting the casino, where she was a pretty good winner, but also liked to keep the others in line while they were there. Nothing was more important to her than her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, Joan is survived by her children, Lisa Mallory and Derek (Kelly) Durham; grandchildren, Jason (Autumn) Hamlin, Nicole (Nick Carey) Lee, Garreck (Kelsea Newberry) Durham; great-grandchildren, Kyleigh, Teagan, Kira, Mason, Rylee, Eli; sister, Maryann VanderBos; sister-in-law, Shirley Piotroski; nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Piotroski; brother-in-law, Larry VanderBos.