Joelle Sue Vietzke, age 39, of 6 Park Avenue, Gladstone, MI died unexpectedly Tuesday evening August 2, 2005 of an apparent heart attack at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba. Joelle was born May 18, 1966 in Escanaba the daughter of Henry and Vera (Holmlund) Vietzke Sr. She was raised in Rapid River and she was a 1984 graduate of Rapid River High School where she was a member of the band. Following graduation she continued her studies at Bay De Noc Community College where she received her Associates Degree. She also attended Lee Bible College in Tennessee where she reaffirmed her deep faith.

Joelle worked for the family business, the Dew Drop Inn, for 28 years and for the past 3 months at Wells Fargo Bank in Escanaba where she really enjoyed the people she worked with and their customers. Joelle was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River and was involved with many community and school activities in Gladstone. Her hobbies included watching movies, playing cards and games, and especially spending time with her daughter Hayley and Hayley’s friends.

Survivors include:

Mother: Vera Vietzke of Gladstone

Daughter: Hayley Vietzke at home

2 Brothers: Henry (Donna) Vietzke of Gladstone; Eric (Canda) Vietzke of Chillicothe, OH

3 Sisters: Sonya (Paul) Marvin of Haslett, MI; Cara (Don) Brockway of Rapid River, MI; Alison (Dan) Furton of Mason, MI

15 nieces and nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father Henry Vietzke Sr. in 1987 and her sister Tina Jo McGeary in 2001.

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 1:00 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Members of the R.C. Hatheway Chapter #49 O.E.S. will be conducting a special service at 3:45 P.M. Funeral services celebrating the life of Joelle Sue Vietzke will follow at 4:00 P.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone with Rev. Stephen Gauger of Calvary Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Rapid River Cemetery in Rapid River. Luncheon will follow at the Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Joelle Vietzke may be directed to an account for Hayley at Wells Fargo Bank, P.O. Box 1068, Escanaba, MI 49829. Envelopes will also be available at the Skradski-Boyce Family Funeral Homes in Gladstone and Escanaba.