Joan C. Eaton

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Joan Eaton, Age 97 of Portage, MI passed away Saturday, February 21, 2026, at StoryPoint of Portage. Joan was born February 4, 1929, in South Bend, IN the daughter of Casimer and Helen (Buzalski) Sandusky. Joan was a graduate of St. Joseph High School in South Bend and received her Bachelor of Nursing Degree from St. Mary’s College in South Bend. She was a U.S. Army Nurse serving during the Korean War. Joan’s greatest loves were her faith, family, friends and her many dogs. Joan was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church and volunteered for the YMCA and Binder park Zoo, she enjoyed playing cards, taking YMCA water classes, sewing and crafts. Surviving are four children, Kathleen Fett, Nancy Chadwell, Susan (Gordon) Groves, John (Nancy) Eaton, nine grandchildren, David, James, Caitlin, Melissa, Charles, Betsy, Emily, Parker, Hailey; three great-grandchildren, Kiera, Hazel, Van; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Casimer, Jerome, Eugene, Leo and Edmund. An Open House Celebration of Life will be held on March 18, 2026, from 11:30 to 1:30 at Latitude 42 in Portage. Graveside services will be 2:30 pm Wednesday March 18, 2026, at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Twelve Baskets Food Panty co/ the funeral home.