Eva Joan Wiley Owens December 18, 1917-September 26, 2009

Joan Owens of Clearfield, Iowa passed away September 26, 2009 in Andover, Minnesota where she had been living the past two years.

Joan was born on December 18, 1917 to Mabel Schishler Wiley and John Wiley in Kellerton, Iowa. After receiving Manual Teacher Training she taught in a one-room school in the Kellerton area. On December 24, 1937 she was married to Walter (Walkie) Owens. They were married 62 years before Walter’s death in 1999. Together they enjoyed raising their three children, gardening, traveling and dancing to big band music.

She loved music. She taught private piano and was also a church organist and singer in the community of Clearfield. After her children were older, she attended Southwestern Community College in Creston and Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, getting her degree in music education and elementary education in 1966. She taught music and then remedial reading and math in the Clearfield school district from 1966 to 1989. Her greatest delight was in helping children learn to read. Joan had a thirst for learning. She was an avid reader, loved quilting, learned how to paint during her 80s and while living at Crestridge Estates, audited a religion class at Southwestern Community College.

Joan is survived by three children, Deanne and Leon Tibben of Andover, Minnesota, Judy Owens of Boulder, Colorado and Will (Wiley) Owens of Saint Petersburg, Florida; sisters, Janice Jo Rong and Jacquie Timmons; brother, Bill Wiley; four grandchildren, Kristen Frost-Tibben, Jennifer Tibben-Lembke, Lisa Owens Starr and Paul Owens, and six great-grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, an infant son and her parents.

A viewing and gathering with the family will be at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Clearfield on Thursday, October 1 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be at the Clearfield Christian Church on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Alan Rusk officiating with burial in the Clearfield cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the general scholarship fund of Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline Street, Creston, IA 50801.