Joseph N. LaBean

Mr. Joseph Nicholas “Joe” LaBean, age 85, our strong, honest, devoted, loving, reliable, and respected mentor, provider, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away peacefully on June 11, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Joe was born on March 13, 1940, at home in Mt. Morris, Michigan, to Joseph Roy & Elizabeth Ann LaBean (Lieber). Joe grew up in Millington alongside his siblings and had many memories on the family farm. When Joe was 5 years old, he walked alongside his mom from Richville to Swaffer Rd in Millington to help drive a team of horses to the family farm. He used his chore money from the farm to put towards an indoor bathroom for his mom. He enjoyed climbing trees with his brother, Fred, and dropping to the last branch before dropping to the ground. In gym class at Millington High School, he liked to climb the rope suspended from the ceiling and would drop from the top, only to catch the end of the rope below the mat. He graduated from Millington High School with the Class of 1958 and was involved in FFA and voted MVP on the varsity football team.

One day, Joe’s sister, Della invited her friend Nancy Lee Coon to the LaBean homestead for a sleepover. Joe was smitten with Nancy, and she agreed to begin correspondence and write letters to one another. Joe would walk miles and swim across the lake to visit Nancy. They fell in love and were wed on May 16, 1959. Together they celebrated over 66 years of marriage.

After graduating high school, Joe began his career with Eaton Foundry in Vassar. He dedicated 42 years at the foundry working in the heat treat, blast, tool & die departments. During his working years at the foundry, he was involved with UAW and USW.

Joe built two homes from the ground up including the current family farm where he and his wife raised their legacy of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed baseball, fishing, hunting, swimming, rollercoasters, softball, football, birds, and anything with horses, farming the land, bowling, horseshoes, camping, canoeing, family vacations & picnics, dancing with Nancy, playing cards, and sometimes “resting his eyes”. Above all, Joe loved time spent with his family and the memories he made with them.

He is forever loved by his beloved wife, Mrs. Nancy Lee LaBean; children: Nicholas (Bill Kroll) LaBean, Scott (Chris) LaBean, Therese (Brian) Jones, Joseph LaBean II, Marjorie Hawkins, Michael (Michelle Ellis) LaBean; grandchildren: Juanita (Melinda Heldt) Huizar, Jessica White, Jesseca (Curtis) McLeod, Kristine White, Cory White, Elizabeth LaBean, Scotty (Serena Kukulski) LaBean, Raechelle (Riley) Chowning, Joshua (Aimee) Jones, Daniel McKracken, Jessie Werner, James (Kristen) Hawkins, Bradley (Katrina) Hawkins, Christopher McNinch, Michael McNinch, Devon (Justin) Chen, Alyssa (Zach) Thibeault, Reagan Eggert, Tessa Jo LaBean, and Michael LaBean II; great-grandchildren: Vincenzo, Alivia, Aryana, Imani, Kehlani, Samantha, Hope, Charlie, Lizzy, Haley, Scott Jr., Hunter, Seth, Nora, Sadie, Kimi, Charlotte, Brennan, Jaxson, Beau, Donovan, Zira, Will, Isaac, Zandar, Sarah, Zoey, Nancy, and Zachariah; siblings: Fred LaBean, Della French, Priscilla Jakubczak, Edward (Colleen) LaBean, Albert (Joyce) LaBean; in-laws, Ted & Doris Horton; in addition he was blessed with an abundance of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Anthony Dylan LaBean; parents, Joseph Roy & Elizabeth Ann LaBean; siblings: Loretta Fall, Elizabeth “Liz” Stubbs, and Paulette Smeaton; and in-laws, Margeret Chriest, Ron Jakubczak, Richard Stubbs, Chuck French, Jim Smeaton, Jean LaBean, and Harry Fall.

Joe’s family will receive visitors at Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025; a rosary prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Joe’s funeral liturgy will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025; additional visiting from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Deacon Steven George will preside. Afterward, he will be laid to rest in Watertown Twp. Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Millington Boosters.

"Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smiling until then."

- Happy Trails by Roy Rogers

Kindly share a memory with Joe's family in the guestbook below.

Joe and his family are in the care of Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington. 4823 Main St, 48746. (989) 871-4591.

Hanlin Funeral Homes ~ Serving Since 1928

Millington & Vassar