Memorial
Joan K. Baird, 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Saturday, March 12, 2016 at her home under the care of Hospice of Mercy.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Joan was born October 24, 1924 in Cedar Rapids to Frank and Anna (Martinek) Kanak. She attended Ward-Belmont College, a finishing school for young ladies, in Nashville, Tennessee. Joan transferred to Iowa State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in science education.
Joan previously worked for the YWCA in Cedar Rapids, and began her teaching career at Wilson School in 1948 instructing home economics. She met her husband, Lloyd W. Baird in 1964 while they were both employed at Wilson. They married on August 6, 1966 at First Presbyterian Church.
Joan went back to school, graduating with a master’s degree in library science from the University of Iowa in 1967. She was placed at Jefferson High School as a librarian, and within a few years had become the head librarian. She held this position until her retirement in 1989.
Joan was a member of Delta Zeta sorority during her time at Iowa State, and remained active in the local Cedar Rapids chapter. She enjoyed entertaining the Delta Zeta ladies in her home. As a young woman, she played piano and sang at many Delta Zeta events, including competing in, and winning, several sorority choral competitions.
Joan and Lloyd raised two children together. They enjoyed traveling as a family in the summer months. Joan especially enjoyed trips they took to central Europe, including Czechoslovakia (where she drew her heritage), the British Isles, and the Canadian Rockies.
Joan was well-liked by her co-workers and friends. She was dearly cherished by her husband. She will be missed by those who loved her.
She is survived by her husband of nearly fifty years, Lloyd. Also surviving are two children from a previous marriage, whom Lloyd and Joan raised: Brian J. Baird of Burlington and Mary Kaye Baird Caskey of Duluth, Minnesota; granddaughter Katie Caskey, also of Duluth; and dear cousin John Hasek of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
She was preceded in death by her parents and cousin Joe Kacena.
Memorials in Joan’s name may be directed to Hospice of Mercy.