Joan Beal Beck, 83, of Iola, Kansas, died Monday, October 5, 2015 at Windsor Place in Iola.
She was born February 13, 1932, Ω mile west of the Diamond Methodist Church in Deer Creek Township in Allen County on the family farm to Albert Linn Beal and Grace Henrietta Hardin Beal. She was the 6th of 11 children and lifelong active 4-H member and supporter. After graduating from Iola High School in 1950 she worked in the area, graduating from Iola Junior College in 1952. She then attended Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg, graduating with a degree in Home Economics in 1955. Then she worked as an Extension Agent in Chautauqua and Anderson Counties in Kansas.
Joan married Gale Dean Beck on August 30, 1956, in Iola, Kansas. They made their home in Colony, Kansas before moving to Iola.
She was involved in numerous organizations and accepted leadership roles in many of them. Some of these included DAR, Meals on Wheels, FCE, NARFE, NASCOE/KASCOE, SEK Genealogy Society; 4-H leader; Presbyterian Church as a member, Sunday School Teacher and Deacon; Iola Public Library home bound book delivery.
She is survived by her children, Terri Kretzmeier and husband Jay of Iola, Vicki Fry and husband William of Burlington, Kansas, and David Beck of Iola; grandchildren Elizabeth Kretzmeier Devlin (Ian), Michelle Kretzmeier, Rebecca Miller (Mike), Jeri Edwards (Dan), Brenda Johnson (Kody), Daryl Beck, and Jenna Anderson; great-grandchildren Alexander Smith, Jacquelyn Smith, Eric Hockett, Caleb Hockett, Joshua Hockett, Janie Myrick, Eli Maley; four sisters, Evelyn Hess, Dorothy West, Nina Powell (Dale), and Laura Roush (Eugene), two brothers, Robert Beal (Nedra) and Richard Beal (Angie); and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother Albert Lawrence Beal, infant sister Marjory Jean Beal, sister Eleanor Marie Robinson and brother Harry Eugene Beal.
Visitation will be Friday, October 9th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel. The funeral service will be Saturday, October 10th, 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Iola, Kansas. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. The Reverend Maureen Olson will officiate.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Iola or “NARFE Alzheimer’s Research”, and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Joan Beal Beck
