JOAN MARIE STRINGHAM
Joan Marie (Haley) Stringham was born November 3, 1943, in Creston, Iowa, to James Calvin Haley and Dorotha Olive (Lane) Haley. Joan grew up her brother, Robert, and sisters, Julia and Mary Jane. She went to school in Benton and then graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1962.
Joan was united in marriage to Donald Lee Stringham at the Benton Christian Church on June 3, 1962 before Donald left for the Navy. To this union two children were born Malinda Lea in 1967 and James Ernest in 1969.
Joan traveled along with Don to several Navy base locations before returning to Benton in 1979. They decided to reside in a Third Generation Family Home. Joan was known to keep very busy as she was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in 1979 for 40 years, American Legion Auxiliary in 1978 for 41 years and the Modern Mothers Club all her life. She worked many jobs as a babysitter, waitress, ironing officers’ uniforms, drapery factory, salesclerk, Ringgold County Hospital in the laundry department and cook for several years. Joan retired from the Ringgold County Hospital as a cook in 2010 and then traveled many miles in a truck with Donnie. Also known as “Grandma” or “Granny” had three grandchildren, Matthew James, Michael Shane and Mitchel Lee along with two great grandchildren, LeaAnn Marie and Nicholas James who called her “Grandma Great”. Sunday Funday’s was our family gathering with activities and a good home cooked meal. She enjoyed bowling, reading, gardening, canning, sewing (making quilts) and following her grandchildren in their sports especially wrestling. Joan loved Christmas, Elvis Presley, the color red and geraniums was her favorite flower.
Joan passed away at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr as she fought cancer on February 22, 2019. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Dorotha Haley; parents-in-law, Sandy and Colene Stringham; brother, Bob (Linda) Haley; sister, Julia Stephens.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 57 years Donald; daughter, Malinda (Mike) Swank of Benton; son, Jamie Stringham of Leon; grandchildren, Matthew (Katie) Swank of Skidmore, Mo., Shane (Marissa) Swank of Pleasant Hill and Mitchel Lee Swank of Benton; great grandchildren, LeaAnn Marie and Nicholas James Swank of Skidmore, MO, sister, Mary Jane (Ernie) Garrett of Diagonal; brothers-in-law, Don Stephens of Benton and Curt Stringham of Cedar Rapids. Joan also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephew, friends and acquaintances to grieve her loss.
Joan was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She is our rock that keeps us all strong. Her love was powerful and she cherished her time with Malinda and Jamie, her grandchildren and great grandchildren watching them succeed in their lives growing up. She will be remembered enjoying cooking for her fam
