Deanna Janelle Gerbig

Deanna spent her childhood living on the lake and was often found playing mermaids with her sisters and carrying her little sister on her back giving her a “dolphin” ride. Something they admit they even did in their adult days when playing with their own babies in the pool. She taught her nephew Kaden how to be brave and swim on his own with her close by in a pool just this year. Deanna was kind, compassionate and would have done anything for the babies in her family.

She graduated from Lake Linden-Hubbell High School as Valedictorian with the Class of 2005. Deanna was always a bright child and excelled in school as well as sports. She was one heck of a volleyball player, even naming a pet rabbit she brought home from work one day “Pepper” after her favorite volleyball warm up drill. She also participated in band, track and field, basketball, drama club, national honor society and many more extracurriculars. Deanna was always a jokester waiting to brighten someone’s day with a joke or funny anecdote. Her friends have many fond memories of sleepovers that included playing flinch until the late hours of the night, drinking way too much diet pop, and laughing so hard they peed their pants.

After High school, Deanna briefly went to Central Michigan University. She transferred Sophomore year to Northern Michigan University to complete her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She missed the freshwater lakes and waterfalls when she moved downstate and has always stated that as the main reason she wanted to move to Marquette, Michigan. Deanna loved all the beauty that Marquette had to offer. You could often find her hiking along the trails with her dog Roewyn and friends, swimming with her siblings and nieces/nephews in Lake Superior and chasing waterfalls with her beloved son, James. She established herself in Marquette and loved the community. Deanna was a long-time employee of Adult Learning Systems in Marquette and was a caregiver for adults with disabilities. This role greatly impacted Deanna, and she loved helping and making her residents’ days brighter. Deanna found her love of cooking when she was making meals for her group home residents. Her recent favorite treat was making caramel corn from scratch. After the birth of her son in 2019, Deanna was a full-time mom and shared her love of Marquette with her new baby boy. She enjoyed nothing more than spending time outdoors with her child, nieces/nephews, parents and siblings. She cherished her time with them, and it was evident as she gushed over them and always had a smile on her face. Deanna was a proud aunt and mother. The memories of the children playing together will always be something her surviving family cherishes. She loved being involved in celebrations with her family including 4th of July fireworks, cousin trick or treating, camping trips, beach trips and of course the little one’s birthday parties. She recently enjoyed two family vacations just this summer. One to her beloved Aunt and Uncle’s Smith’s lake cabin. Deanna laughed, swam, fished and made amazing memories that her family will cherish. The other was a camping trip with James and her parents. She went with “no technology” as little James would say and had a blast making s’mores, being the camp chef naturally and swimming at the pool. Anyone who knew Deanna would swear she was part mermaid.

Deanna’s family invites you to attend her Celebration of Life, taking place on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Presque Isle Pavilion, 3 Peter White Drive, Marquette, MI 49855. The Celebration of Life will start at 1 p.m. with a short service and sharing of memories, followed by a light lunch. Deanna would want you to be comfortable so please come as you are and share in memories of her life.

Deanna is survived by her son, her pride and joy in life, James T. Croteau; parents; her loving siblings, Audra (Don) Atkinson, Rob (Sarah) Gerbig, Tricia (Bruce) Gander, Ryan (Kinzie) Gerbig and Rachel (Matthew) Matta; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who will all miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial Contributions go to her surviving son, James. There will be a place at the celebration to contribute. Any donations given will be put into a bank account for James.

Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.