Joseph M. Korson, Died Aug. 15, 2018

Joseph Matthew Korson

Died August 15, 2018

LAKE LEELANAU – Joseph Matthew Korson , 73, of Lake Leelanau, passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2018, surrounded by his loving family, in the home he built with his son Chuck and good friend, Art McNeil.

Joseph was born September 21, 1944 in Omena, the son of Arthur Joseph Korson and Mollie Christina (Houdek) Korson.  After 18 years of being together, he married Belinda “Grandma Lin” Diane Baker on August 8, 2018 at their home in Lake Leelanau.

Joseph was a hardworking, strong willed Bohemian, with a great love of the outdoors and telling stories.  Nobody was a stranger to Joseph -- to him, everyone looked familiar. Perhaps, it was due to his strong connections to the community.  He was the farm manager at Ed and Barb Merica’s Farm.  Joe attended St. Mary’s Church and for over three decades; he was the basketball coach and referee at St. Mary’s, a little league umpire, and the host of many euchre tournaments.

Joseph was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting.  He took hunting trips to a deer camp in the U. P., as well as to Colorado and to Quebec with his son and friends.  Joe couldn’t wait to take his 9-month-old granddaughter on her first hunting trip.  But even on these trips, he never put aside his devotion to his faith; he would find a church to attend mass.  His love of the Lord showed in everything he did.  Joe was a generous soul that was always there to help those in need, whether it be by helping with bills, groceries, or chopping wood for the winter.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Belinda Korson; his children, Janell (Ted Corwin) Goodwin-Korson, Charles (Beverly) Korson, Carla (Mark) Hibbard, and Ken Knight; his siblings, Dolores Houdek, Blaise (Sarah) Korson, Dorothy Korson, Albert (Sue) Korson, Mary (Ray) Feagles, Vicky (Al) Hinds, Art (Joyce) Korson, Delphine (Jack) Zugel; a friend that was like a son, Chuck (Sandy) Wolfe, his dear friend, Butch (Laurel) Couturier; and his grandchildren, Alexandria Goodwin, Melinda and Mark Hubbard, and Tulena and Cassidy Knight.

He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brothers, Jimmy, Willard and Ray, his sisters, Barb and Loretta; and a daughter in infancy, Annie.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23 at St. Mary’s Church, Lake Leelanau with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Korson Family, P.O. Box 159, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.

Condolences may be shared with Joe’s family below or at our funeral home Facebook page: