Joan Michael "Mike" Rich

Joan Michael “Mike” Rich, née Copeland, passed peacefully on March 6, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on July 6, 1944, in San Francisco, California, she spent her early years in Montana and Idaho Falls before attending high school in Elko, Nevada. Those formative years shaped the caring and faithful woman who would devote her life to her family, her faith, and serving others.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mike found her greatest joy in time spent with her family. Her deep love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren remained the center of her life and the legacy she leaves behind. For 22 years she worked for Mesa Public Schools, serving her community with kindness and dedication while forming many lasting relationships.

Her life was rooted in her relationship with Jesus Christ, which guided her love and care for those around her. She was a longtime member of Word of Grace Church, where her faith continued to grow and quietly inspire others. She delighted in life’s simple beauties—riding her bike, watching sunsets, and admiring the moon—yet nothing meant more to her than being surrounded by her family.

Mike will be remembered as a kind, loving, and compassionate woman whose quiet strength and faith were evident in all she did. She is survived by her beloved husband, Wayne Rich, and her four children: Wayne (Richie), Chris, Meg, and Erin. She was a proud grandmother to Matthew, Marissa, Katherine, Abby, Grace, Max, Jake, Connor, Grant, Amanda, Carol, Anna, David, Michael, Lucy, Thomas, Peter, and Zelle, and a cherished great-grandmother to Joseph, George, James, Regina, Charles, Theo, Max, Jane Francis, and Della Mae. She was preceded in death by her parents, Treo and Ray Copeland, and her brother, Jerry.