Memorial
Joan May Elliott-Green obtained the age of 84 years, after which she passed away from a short illness on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Her home as of recent years had been West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Joan was surrounded by her family in her last days and hours at the St. Luke’s Hospice Unit, and also later at her home in West Ridge Care Center.
Joan was born November 21, 1931 in St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids to Emma H. and John M. Elliott. She was baptized and confirmed at Olivet Presbyterian Church, where as a teenager she was active in the youth club and choir. Joan was also a member of the “Prayer Band” in high school. In her later years, Joan attended People’s Unitarian Church.
Joan attended Fillmore Elementary School and Roosevelt Jr./Sr. High Schools in Cedar Rapids. After high school she married F. Wallace “Wally” Brown in November of 1950. They later separated and she subsequently married Joseph V. Green in July of 1982.
Joan was interested and very active in numerous clubs and activities during her school years and her years as an adult. In school she was a member of the Student Council for three years as class representative and vice president. She loved her music and was in the school and church choirs as a youth and as an adult. She was the senior editor of the annual year book, a member of the Aristotelian Honors Society, Sigma Sigma Philanthropy group, Red Cross, PTA, and Civil Defense. She was a leader for the Campfire Girls and Bluebirds, a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School leader, and co-leader of LRY Church Youth Group. She was involved with Parents Without Partners of Linn County, several different card clubs, and had fun with two different Red Hat groups.
Joan was very proud of her Czech heritage and took Czech classes at the Cedar Rapids Czech School with her Aunt Olga to prepare them for the two trips they took back to the home country of Grandpa and Grandma Frank and Frances Jancik.
In her early work years she worked at Sanford’s Record Department. She was a bookkeeper and accountant for several different firms. When her children were young, she was a homemaker and also worked as a cashier and baker for the Cedar Rapids school system. All of the children at Erskine and Monroe schools loved her baked goods and desserts.
As her children grew up, she worked as a church secretary for People’s Unitarian Church. In the later years, her needs changed and she took classes at Kirkwood College to become a semi driver. With the additional schooling, she was able to get a job driving a semi for Ruan Trucking. She also took classes to become a machinist and tool and die maker like her birth father.
Joan worked at Universal Engineering as a tool and die maker. After working at Rockwell Goss as a machinist and forklift driver, Joan took early retirement at age 62. She was proud of the fact that she was one of the first two women to break the glass ceiling, working in the warehouse at Rockwell Goss as a machinist.
Joan had many different collections. She had a great love of anything with butterflies on it, or that type of theme. She also loved the color purple and had many different items in all shades of purple or lavender. Joan too was very fond of Shirley Temple and her films, and collected her movies and other memorabilia. She was a member of the Shirley Temple Fan Club and attended many of the yearly conventions. She loved old romance movies and could tell you almost anything about them. Joe and Joan loved to travel and did so extensively in the United States, Mexico, South America, and the different islands in the Gulf area.
Joan is survived by her husband Joseph V. Green of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Whitehouse, Ohio; daughter Chris (Dennis) Glover of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; granddaughter Kay Jandik of Iowa City; grandson Ken (Amber) Jandik of Florida; granddaughter Theresa (Chris) Smyth of Florida; great-grandchildren Jacob Herb of Cedar Rapids and Ashley Herb of Florida; daughter Colette (Denny) Molumby of Cedar Rapids; grandson Dan Molumby of Marion; grandson Justin Molumby of Bettendorf; and great-grandsons Clayton and Carson of Bettendorf.
Also surviving are brother John (Cheryl) Elliott and sister Janice (Robert) Carson, all of Cedar Rapids; nieces and nephews Mike (Christa) Carson; Mark (Julie) Carson; Joni Carson; Tim (Lisa) Carson; Debbie (Pat) Couch; Brenda Elliott (Neil Myer); Roger Clifford; Robin Clifford; as well as numerous special great-nieces and great-nephews who were a great joy and comfort and aided her in her later years.
She was preceded in death by her mother Emma. H. Petrick of Cedar Rapids; and fathers Fred “Mombo” Petrick of Cedar Rapids and John M. Elliott (Gretchen) of Houston, Texas; grandfather and grandmother Frank and Frances Jancik of Cedar Rapids; a very special aunt, Olga Jancik of Cedar Rapids; grandmother Effie May Morgan Elliott of Cedar Rapids; nephews Ron (Jane-living) Carson of Swisher; Mike Carson of Cedar Rapids; Dan (Jane) Carson of Cedar Rapids; and niece Annie Zimmerman of Cedar Rapids.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 18, 2016 at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Inurnment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Joan was a philanthropist and chose to support many different charities. Instead of flowers, the family has established a memorial fund; however, those choosing to do so may also contribute to an organization of their own choice.
The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen Estates, West Ridge Care Center, St. Luke’s Hospital staff, and the staff at St. Luke’s Ed ad Joan Hemphill Continuing Care Hospice for excellent patient care.
In closing, the family would like to quote from Longfellow:
“In departing, we leave behind Footprints on the sands of time.”
Joan left impressions on many young lives she taught in her classes and groups that she guided and they are richer for it. With her wry humor and love for games and different clubs, she was a favorite of young and old alike.