"I remember so much and have some incredible childhood memories of Joan I always loved to go and visit your Mom with my Mom (Bonnie Turek). I had just seen her at Mom's funeral in February and had such a nice visit with her about the old days and how much fun we all had. Such a beautiful person she was and I shall never forget her. Much love and prayers to the family and may you know she lived a light filled good long life and was one of the strongest ladies I have ever been fortunate enough to have known. Much love to all...Annette Turek Ennis"
In loving memory of
Joan K. Gerhardt
May 13, 2014
Joan K. Gerhardt , age 91, of 2928 Spring Street, Quincy, died Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 4:00 pm in Blessing Hospital.
Joan was born March 21, 1923 in Shelbyville, Indiana, the daughter of Erhard and Catherine Burke Hey. She graduated from St. Petersburg, Florida High School in 1940. During World War II, she worked as a teletype operator at Dale Mabry Air Depot in Tallahassee, Florida, and as a cryptographic clerk for the Air Technical Service Command in Dayton, Ohio and Oakland, California. In 1945, Joan married George J. Gerhardt of Loraine, Illinois and moved to Quincy. He preceded her in death. She later was married for twenty-seven years to Wayne Rinne, also of Quincy.
In 1964, she went to work at the Quincy Post Office, the first female employee hired by that office. She worked first as the operator for the Federal Telecommunications System, then as secretary to the postmaster. In 1982 she transferred to Panama City, Florida, to be secretary to the Panama City Postmaster. After retiring from that office, she later moved back to Quincy to be with her children. She was a member of St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, NARFE, and RSVP.
Joan loved ballroom dancing, was an avid reader, enjoyed volunteering at Blessing Hospital and other places through RSVP, sewing, knitting, playing the keyboard, and above all, enjoyed being with her family.
She is survived by two daughters, Jake (Jeff) Stroot of Quincy, and Peg (John) Fox of Galesburg, Illinois; a son Keith (Vickie) Gerhardt of Quincy; eleven grandchildren, Lance (Laura) Fox of Columbia, Missouri, Shea (Daphne) Fox of Manchester, Missouri, Chad (Velma) Fox of Cameron, Illinois, Nick Fox of Abingdon, Illinois, Bree Ceja of Galesburg, Illinois, Jennifer (Nate) Fischer, Meegan (Ryan) Fischer, Katie (Eric) Wait, Justin (Alana) Gerhardt, Nathan Gerhardt, and Misty (Craig) Spilker, all of Quincy. Joan is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Kay DuVal Hey; a daughter, Kath-Ann Gerhardt; a granddaughter, Megan Rae Davison; two sisters, Martha Newman of Panama City, Florida, and Nancy Rosen of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a brother, Robert Hey of Venice, Florida.
Funeral Mass: Wednesday May 14, 2014, 11:00 am at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, with Rev. Tom Shaughnessy, O.F.M. officiating.
Inurnment: Quincy Memorial Park
Visitation: 10:00 - 11:00 am at St. Francis Solanus Cathoic Church
Memorials: Blessing Hospital Volunteer Services or the American Cancer Society
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.
Tributes
"We enjoyed visiting with your Mom thru the years. She was a sweet lady for sure. Our condolences to the family."
"We first met Joan when she answered an RSVP call for volunteers to staff a table at the Log Cabin Village. She then decided to joined the Friends of the Log Cabins and became an active volunteer staffing the welcome table at events in the village. We will miss her."
"Danielle - I remember Grans awesome Peanut Butter Pies I would get on my birthday. Chelsea- I remember Gran reworking an old yellow prom dress so I could dress up like Belle for Halloween one year. Garrett- I remember Gran testing me on my German all through high school. We would also discuss books after we read them. Molly- I remember Gran helping me through school with reading lessons. And in the summer she would challenge me to keep reading. Kadyn- I remember being told that Gran was right by my side 4 years ago when I collapsed with a brain tumor. It was her birthday, she said she would never forget that day. We all remember Gran was at all of our adoptions, encouraging every step of the way and we also remember the dance lessons at the Elks Club. We were not her best students but she kept after us. We will miss Gran."
"Joan had been helping me with the N.A.R.F.E Chapter #361 NEWLINE that is sent out to over 200 members each month. We folded, stuffed, put labels on. We visited and told each other about our families. She lived and worked in many places. She had wonderful stories about her young life and then through the rest of the her time. We laughed at some of the silly things that happened to us in our senior years. I will miss her but so glad that I had a chance to know her. I am sorry for your loss."
"I often visited with Joan at Eagles Club, where her and Wayne danced so beautiful together, and many times had breaks with her when she volunteered at Blessing Hospital..She was such a special and beautiful Lady. I feel honored to have known her, and will miss her smiling face."