Joan Marie Hart

MADISON-Joan Marie Hart died on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, at Agrace HospiceCare following a brave, almost two-year struggle with cancer. Joan was born on Jan. 22, 1941, in Orient, Iowa to Paul and Esther (Christiansen) Wallace. She attended school in Orient, graduated From Creston, Iowa High School, and Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa. Joan received her master's degree in biology from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. in 1964 and taught biology at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee for one year. Joan married Michael Hart in 1965 and they raised four children, living in San Francisco, Calif. for four years, Washington, DC for three years, Columbia, Mo. for two years, Iowa City, Iowa for 20 years (where she was a vital member of St. Mary's parish and co-directed the St. Anthony's Bread Fund for charity), and Madison, Wis. for 24 years. At every stop she collected wonderful friends and was a wonderful friend in turn. Intelligent and talented, Joan chose to focus her time and energy on her family and on the communities in which she lived. She loved and supported her husband, children, and granddaughters in large and small ways--whether providing sage counsel and an e...[more]

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thetic ear, overseeing Suzuki lessons, filling her butcher block table with fresh produce from her garden, or soothing a hurt. With her amazing cooking and hosting skills, being at Joan's house for a holiday dinner was always a treat. And she was the driving force within numerous organizations - from the PTA to neighborhood associations to political caucuses. A great listener and eager to learn from others, Joan made each person she met feel valued. She cared about those in need and worked to achieve governments that serve all. A voracious reader, Joan treasured words and recognized their power for good or evil. Always open to new experiences and new ideas, Joan loved to travel, seeing new places and making new friends. With her beautiful smile and lovely laugh, Joan warmly welcomed into her home many strangers, including students and faculty from other countries, often providing them a home away from home. She reveled in the time spent in exercise and talk with a group of Madison women friends of over twenty years. Joan fought hard to preserve the architectural and cultural landmarks of Iowa City and Madison, protecting this historical heritage for generations to come. Her home was a museum of furniture and other artifacts of historical value. Joan researched and placed two homes on the National Historical Register in Iowa City. Her home in Madison was built by Timothy McCarthy as his own home. McCarthy was a Madison contractor who built four wings of the state capitol building, St. Patrick's church and several university buildings, including Science hall and the Old Red Gym. Joan succeeded in having the McCarthy home placed on the National Historical Register with a Madison Landmark designation. Even as faced with various health challenges, Joan continued to nurture her cherished family and serve her community, always honoring the words that she lived by, "I'll do as much as I can for as long as I can." She will be greatly missed by her many friends and loving family. Joan is survived by her husband, Michael; her twin sister, Judith; son, Joseph; daughter, Este; and granddaughters, Alexandria and Eva Lazarus. She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard; son, Vincent; and daughter, Kristina. The family wants to acknowledge the wonderful care Joan received at Agrace and the UW Carbone Cancer Center, with special thanks to Drs. Noelle LoConte and John McDermott, and Nurse Practioner, Cassandra Padovani. A memorial service will be held at HOLY WISDOM MONASTERY, 4200 Co. Hwy M, Middleton, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers please contribute to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Joan's favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420 To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.gundersonfh.com/obituaries/Joan-Marie-Wallace-Hart?obId=8097884#/celebrationWall