Joan, the oldest of 3 children, was born in Chadron, Nebraska on June 19, 1930 to Oren and Myrtle Forbes. Even though she was very young, she remembers her mother entertaining her with stories while she worked in the kitchen on the ranch in western Nebraska. Deciding that ranching was not for them, they moved frequently, living in Fremont and Norfolk. They finally ended up in Montana when she was in 3rd grade where her dad managed a trucking business and worked in other automotive related businesses.
Following a tragic hunting accident that resulted in her dad’s death, the family returned to Chadron to be near relatives. In order to support the family, her mom returned to college and obtained her teaching degree. Since her mother didn’t drive, they walked everywhere. Joan learned to sew at an early age and always sewed her own clothes, including her wedding dress. She has shared many stories of her family and childhood through the years. In high school she spent a summer working with a friend in Dubois MT, changing beds in a motel in exchange for a place to sleep. They also worked at a local drug store where they could eat all they wanted at the soda fountain.
Joan attended Chadron State College and UNL and ultimately obtained her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from UNL. Joan met her future husband John while they were students at UNL. Just before they were married, he was called into the service so they spent some months living at Fort Sill at what Joan called “La Cockarocha” apartments. Funny stories from their honeymoon in Arizona include thinking that Las Vegas, New Mexico was The Las Vegas.
Once John returned from Korea, Joan and John settled in Lincoln where they raised their 3 children. They lived in various locations throughout Lincoln before settling in their current home, where Joan has lived for the last 50 years.
Joan was a skilled seamstress and cook. Like her mother, she started teaching first grade once her children were in school. She had many fond memories of students and staff from Park School in Lincoln. After retiring from teaching, she enjoyed working with friends setting up estate sales where she was able to put her knowledge of antiques to good use. Until recently she continued to use her teaching skills through weekly visits to a family from the Congo to help the mom with her English skills. Fun vacations through the years usually involved visiting relatives.
Survivors include her three children Jane (Loren) Yule, Bloomfield NE, Jack Wilson, Lincoln and Julia Wilson (Paul Edwards), Gunnison CO; grandchildren Andrew, Elizabeth, Lynn, Emily and Joan; her great grandchildren Eleanora, Leo, Lucas, June, Ramona and Edda; her brother Jim (Marsha) Forbes of Illinois, sister Ruth Klaiber of Colorado and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her infant son Jimmy, husband John, her parents, her stepfather George Lowrey, stepsister Sally Sobieszczyk and brothers-in-law Roger Klaiber and Gerry (Maggie) Wilson
The family was grateful to find out that even at her age, Joan’s wish to continue helping others by being an organ and tissue donor could be honored.
A family celebration of Joan and John’s life will be held at a later date in the Crawford, Nebraska area, where their remains are to be scattered.
Memorials can be sent to the Lighthouse in Lincoln (Lincolnlighthouse.org)
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