Joan Alexander-Shearier

Joan C. Alexander-Shearier, age 68 years, formerly of Benton Harbor, Michigan died at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at Buchanan Meadows Assisted Living in Buchanan, Michigan following an extended illness.

She was born on February 22, 1947 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin to Carl John and Ruth M. (Kargi) Larson. She was graduated from Prentice (Wisconsin) High School, and has lived in this area since 1987. She was a District Representative for the former Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance, now Thrivent Financial. She added New York Life to her offerings, and eventually owned and operated Alexander Financial Services in Saint Joseph, Michigan before her health began to fail.

Joan was a member of the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niles, and was formerly a member of Saint Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stevensville, Michigan. She was very active at Saint Luke’s where she also held elected offices. She greatly enjoyed serving the Lutheran Church with insurance services, and had established southwest Michigan’s Orchard Branch to provide fraternal benefits. The Branch became a wonderful fellowship of like-minded individuals.

Joan had formerly been married to Victor Alexander. On June 15, 1996 at Saint Luke’s Church she married Wayne G. Shearier with whom she celebrated this year the nineteenth anniversary of their wedding.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by a daughter, Charlene Chadek who died in infancy.

Surviving family includes her husband, the Rev. Wayne Shearier and her children, Burnell Chadek of Woodinville, Washington and Scott Chadek of Saint Joseph; grandchildren, Justin (& Meagan) Chadek, Chad (& Aubree Lachman) Chadek, and Alicia (& Josh) Palmatier; great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Karson, Zoey, Aria, and Blake; and Joan’s siblings, Donald (& Donna) Larson of Barnes, Wisconsin and Don’s twin, Diane Nelson of Brantwood, Wisconsin, Lynn Heinlein of Alto, Michigan, and Dale (& Harriett) Larson of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Joan Alexander-Shearier will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 28, 2015 at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Dr. Dennis B. Smith of Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Constantine, Michigan and the Rev. William J. Hoerger of Niles officiating.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles and on Monday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in memory of Joan may be made to Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1819 Oak Street, Niles, Michigan 49120; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.