Joan Elaine Brownell
Joan Elaine (Francisco) Brownell, age 84, passed away on January 23, 2026, in Bellevue, Michigan. Joan was born on June 17, 1941, in Delton, Michigan, to parents Frank William and Ila May (Munger) Francisco. She married the love of her life, Jerome “Jerry” Brownell, on December 12, 1959, and the two of them had many wonderful years together before his passing in 2018.
Joan worked as a nurse for many years, going from working with babies all the way to helping people with end of life care. She was sweet and caring by nature and she spent her life serving others – both human and furry. She volunteered at Companion Cats, helping to tame spicy tempered cats, and she doted on her rescue donkeys and Belgian horses. She also enjoyed the cattle that was out on the farm. When she wasn’t outside with the animals, she was outside in her garden. Joan was known for her love of her roses, but she also tended to the crops they grew.
She and Jerry went camping often, though once they settled into their later years in life, they took to traveling more. They went out to Alaska and also made the trip with family to visit their son, Randy, in Georgia.
Joan was also very patient with children, teaching them how to sew and knit. She was a Campfire Scout Leader when her daughters were younger and was also involved with 4-H with her children. She positively adored her grandchildren and loved every moment she got to spend with them.
Joan was an avid reader, enjoying true crime and mystery novels. When she wasn’t immersed in a story, she was working on tracing back her family’s genealogy- she traced the Brownell side of the family back to 1271 and the Francisco side back to 1732! She was known for making the most divine tasting pies, but her peach pie was especially wonderful.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Ila and Frank Francisco, her husband, Jerome Brownell, and her siblings, Jim (Lilah) Francisco, Betty Francisco, and her brother-in-law, Don Mohn.
Joan is survived by her children, Frank (Karen) Brownell, Sheri (John) Britton, Randy (Marie) Brownell, Karen (Steve) Rutenber, her grandchildren, JT (Ashley) Britton, Chad (Carrie) Britton, Brad (Amanda) Brownell, Chelsey (Matt) Kirby, Ellen (Jake) Brownell, Scott (Ashley) Brownell, Melissa Ostrander, Mike Walters, Amanda (Cam) Robinson, many beloved great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, her sister, Dee Mohn, her brother, Jerry (Karen) Francisco, a close family friend, Joani See, and her devoted black lab, Pepper Brownell.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 13, 2026, at 1 pm at Washington Park in Bellevue, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made out to Oaklawn Hospice and to Companion Cats. The Kempf Family Funeral Home is honored to care for the Brownell family in their time of need.