JOANN GULAU

JOANN GULAU 05/25/1935 - 10/01/2025 Joann (Hopp) Gulau, 90, passed away with her family by her side on October 1, 2025. She was born May 25, 1935, in Pontiac, Michigan to the late Harry and Martha (Hincka) Hopp. Joann's parents moved to Omer, Michigan in 1941 after a tragic accident took the lives of her brother Harry Jr. and sister Blanche. Joann graduated from Arenac Eastern H.S. in 1953 and continued her education at Bay City Junior College. Joann married Allen Gulau October 19, 1957, in Bay City, Michigan where they met at the Coast Guard Station where Al was stationed. That began a 26-year journey as Joann followed Al to new station assignments from Bay City to Alaska. During that time, they were blessed with three sons: Ron, Jere, and Dennis. When Al retired from the Coast Guard, they built a new home in Kingsley (Traverse City area) where their three sons graduated from Kingsley H.S. In 1985-86 Joann and Al built their "forever" home on Saginaw Bay in the AuGres Boat Club. Joann had a vast interest in crafts both making and selling. When she moved to AuGres and joined the Arenac County Historical Society she found a "new" love researching information for people who needed help finding family lore. She spent hundreds of hours researching, compiling, sorting, and cataloging articles and other materials and then forwarding that information to people around the country. She compiled and indexed many of the museum scrapbooks. Joann co-authored with her friend Brenda Matt, a book about Civil War Veterans pf Arenac County. Joann was also a member of the "Ye Olde Courthouse" Group in Omer and contributed to the preservation of this historic building for future generations to enjoy. Joann and Al were long-time working members of the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society and the AuGres Boat Club. Joann is survived by 3 sons: Ron (Ann) Gulau and their children Tyler (Niki) Gulau, Sara (George D.O.) Nackley and their children George and Samuel, Jere (Dianne) Gulau, and their children Joseph Gulau, Matthew M.D. (Morgan) Gulau and their children Jack, Jolie, & Mason, and Dennis (Ann) Gulau. Joann is also survived by her sister Phyllis (Dick) Klender, brother-in-law Don Gulau and sister-in-Law Betty Easton and best friend Brenda Matt. The family wishes to thank the staff of Eden Fields and Compassus Hospice for their compassionate care of Joann. No memorial service is planned at this time. Per the family's wishes, a private burial service has taken place at St. Edward's Catholic Cemetery, Omer, MI. Memorial contributions may be sent to: Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Attn: Don Morin, 4063 Richmark, Bay City, MI 48706. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Lee Ramsay Funeral Home-Standish Chapel, Standish, Michigan.