WILSON, Joanne B. 1926 - 2025
WILSON, BLAESER, BROWN, DYER, MACDONALD, ELLIS
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/16/2025 at 12:44:28
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Page 4, Column 2JOANNE B. WILSON
FairfieldJoanne B. WILSON, 98, of Fairfield, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 3 at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield. As were her wishes, cremation has taken place and a family service will be at a later date. Cards and condolences may be sent to the family at 1707-A Linden Drive, Fairfield, IA 52556. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.
Joanne was born March 28, 1926 in Evanston, Illinois to Edwin Burt (Ned) and Edith (BLAESER) BROWN of Winnetka.
She spent her childhood along the north shore of Chicago living blocks away from Elder Lane Beach on Lake Michigan in a small house with her parents, two siblings and maternal grandparents. Her youth though during the Great Depression was idyllic--summers at the beach, learning gardening, sewing and how to make everything from scratch from her grandma. She always said if she was one thing, she was a Girl Scout. She kept her first Girl Scout guide until she was 97 when she passed it down to her great-granddaughter.
Coming of age for Joanne during World War II meant not as many stories about the sacrifices made for the war, but the tales about boyfriends and dates. She kept a calendar with all those events. The calendar goes mysteriously blank after a date with war veteran and Marine Robert L. (Bob) WILSON in Fall, 1945. They married in June, 1946. She had graduated from New Trier High School in 1943 and attended National College of Education in Evanston for three years before marrying Bob.
Joanne told her granddaughters that she was the luckiest because all she ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. And that is exactly what she did her whole life. She was the master of making cozy homes and good friends through nine moves including 13 years in Galena, Illinois and a final move to Fairfield in late 1996.
She was the kind of wife, mother, grandma that if you needed to be at work or just early morning volleyball practice, she would wake up with you and make a full breakfast before leaving.
She took her mothering job seriously and was told many times she didn't have to be the "den mother of the world" by her husband of 53 years. But that is exactly how many remember her--caring for, worrying about and protecting as many children as she could.
Her hobbies included doll making, pressed flowers, weaving baskets, reading, gardening, bird watching, keeping her home clean and tidy, making quality meals for herself and her family, and keeping photo books for each of her grandchildren.
Her happy place has always been outside in her garden or along the shores of the Great Lakes, especially Door County, WI, where she honeymooned and instilled a love for the peninsula to multiple generations of her family.
She is survived by three sons; Brad (Sue) WILSON of Western Springs, IL, Jeff WILSON of Fairfield, and John (Beth) WILSON of Bloomingdale, IL; seven grandchildren, Lucy, Anna, Maggie, Brandon, Laura, Kevin and Hanah; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bob in 2000; daughter Linda DYER MacDONALD; brother Bucky BROWN, sister Mary Jean ELLIS and granddaughter Kirby WILSON.
Online condolences may be made to Joanne's family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Robert L. WILSON's obituary -- click here
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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