Joanne Bauschke Pherigo, 65, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. She was born in South Haven, Michigan October 30, 1950. Memorial services celebrating her life will be held November 28, at 1:00 p.m. at the Baldwin-Fairchild Conway Funeral Home, 1413 South Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32807; and December 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Betzler Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Joanne is survived by her husband of thirty-one years, Johnny of Orlando; daughters Emily (Orlando) and Anna (Portland, Maine), and stepson Cody (Seattle, Washington). Also a brother James Bauschke of Kalamazoo, Michigan and sister Betty Simpson of Scottsdale, Arizona; plus numerous cousins, nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. Joanne grew up in the Lake Michigan community of South Haven and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1974 with a degree in Music Performance as an oboist. She played second oboe in the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for twenty-four years and was also a member of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Orchestra. She worked as a dental hygienist in Kalamazoo for twenty-six years. Joanne was an avid knitter, quilter, and maker of stuffed animals, especially teddy bears and rabbits. She also enjoyed photography. Her love for animals led her to volunteer at Pet Rescue by Judy in Sanford, Florida, where she managed the organization’s retail store 2009–15. She ran the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon in 2006. Although Joanne had many interests and hobbies, her passion was always music and especially playing the oboe and the English horn. After moving to Florida in 2004 Joanne retired from dental hygiene and continued her musical career. She was a member of the Walt Disney World Epcot Candlelight Orchestra, Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, and Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. She also substituted on oboe and English horn with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Orchestra. All who knew Joanne remember her as a kind and gentle spirit with a quiet manner and a subtle, dry sense of humor. She was unpretentious and authentic and made friends wherever she went. In lieu of flowers, Joanne requested that memorials in her name be made to: Pet Rescue by Judy, 401 South Laurel Ave, Sanford FL 32771, 407.302.4497, EIN: 59-3297626; or Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Michael Listiak Scholarship Fund, 402 East Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888. Please visit Joanne's personal Memory Page page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook.
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