Joan Hudson Detwiler Jehle
JEHLE, DETWILER, CHRISTGAU, DAUTREMONT, ALDERSON, DAWSON, STUTZMAN
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 4/29/2024 at 07:51:16
Joan Hudson Detwiler Jehle was born on April 6, 1939, in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Baird Edward Detwiler and Veryl Evelyn Christgau Detwiler. In Janesville, she enjoyed an idyllic childhood with her parents, who, for example, outfitted her with a pair of tiny skates and took her skating on nearby Goose Island. Joan's happy memories included roller-skating with her mother.
In 1950, at the age of 11, Joan moved with her family to Iowa City. There she attended Longfellow Elementary, Central Junior High, and City High, graduating with the Class of 1957. Joan has served on all of the planning committees for her "Class of '57" GO LITTLE HAWKS.
From 1957 to 1959, Joan attended the University of Iowa, majoring in interior design within the Department of Home Economics. When the Department was unexpectedly eliminated, Joan moved on, using innate and learned skills in her own and other homes through the years. Aside from her studies, she remembers being voted runner-up in the "Miss Perfect Profile" contest on campus.
Joan married Donald Jay Jehle on September 19, 1959, the couple welcoming two children into their family-Scott Allen Jehle on May 29, 1961, and Susan Lynne Jehle on January 25, 1964. The Jehles divorced in March of 1981.
Ready for work outside the home, Joan launched her career as her husband's office mate in the Iowa City branch of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She clerked at the JC Penney store in downtown Iowa City during the holidays and then moved to Economy Advertising and Bankers Advertising from 1971 to 1979. In 1980, she began with the Iowa City Public Library, first as an office clerk and then as the Office Manager. She left the library in August of 1996 and enjoyed her early retirement.
Joan's time was filled with many volunteer activities including the Mayors Youth Employment Board and the Hate Acts Rapid Response Team (HARRT) of Iowa City and Coralville. Joan attended the Citizens Police Academy in 1997, which supports Johnson County law enforcement agencies. She was a member of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission for two terms, served on the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Board for 2 terms, and acted as treasurer of the Friends of Hickory Hill Park for 14 years.
Joan's interests included travel, photography, gardening, and enjoying the wildlife at her home along the banks of Ralston Creek.
She traveled for over 20 years with Destinations Unlimited in Cedar Rapids to locations as far flung as South America, the Falkland Islands, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Alaska (3 times), the Canadian Rockies, Tanzania (with a safari), the British Isles, and Switzerland. She also took river cruises in France and along the Rhine River. She particularly enjoyed her visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. In 1983, she and her daughter traveled to Florence, Italy to visit her good friend, Vicki Thoma Pegni and her husband, Alex.
Joan is survived by her children, Scott (Kelly) Jehle and Susan Jehle (Chris Dautremont); granddaughter Erin Jehle (Mike Alderson) and their children Rilynn Alderson and Rowan Alderson, granddaughter Ryan Dawson (Wesley Dawson) and their children Xander Dawson, Elliana Dawson and Emerson Dawson and granddaughter Lynn Jehle; niece Melanie (Bob) Stutzman of Wellman and brother and sister-in-law Robert and Mary Jo Jehle of Cedar Rapids. She was predeceased by parents Baird and Veryl; brother Stephen; grandparents Detwiler and Christgau; in-laws Robert and Esther Jehle; sister-in-law Karen Jehle, brother-in-law Harold Jehle, brother-in-law George “Corky” Jehle, Joan's former husband Donald Jehle and several aunts and uncles.
Friends and family will gather at Lensing Funeral Home, Iowa City on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 2:00pm -4:00pm to celebrate a life well lived. A time of sharing and prayer will be at 3:30pm. Memorials in Joan's memory may be sent to any environmental or animal rescue organization, including the Iowa City Animal Shelter, or the Baird Detwiler and Stephen Baird Detwiler Endowment Fund at the Iowa City Public Library in care of the Friends Foundation.
A private ceremony will be held in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Minnesota where Joan will join her parents and brother in the Baird & Detwiler Plot.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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