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In memory of

Mrs. Joan Elizabeth Neilsen

La Vernia, TX, USA

September 3, 1951 - March 17, 2021

Sep 3, 1951 - Mar 17, 2021

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Joan Elizabeth Neilsen (Whitmore), age 69, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at Baptist Hospital in San Antonio from complications of heart failure. Joan graduated from MacArthur High School (San Antonio) in 1969 and received her bachelor of arts degree in European history and French language from Trinity University (San Antonio) in 1973. While studying abroad in Vienna in 1972, she met her lifelong love Tom which began their wild adventure. After college she moved from Texas to Chicago to join him and they got married in 1976. She was a loving devoted mother to four adopted children, sons Søren, Malachi, Angelo, and daughter Josefina.

In 1989, Joan adapted quickly to country life when they moved to New Glarus. She decided to get her teaching certification from UW-Platteville where she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi for academic honors. She shared her love of language with thousands as a French and German teacher and broadened many horizons of her students. She taught German at Verona Middle School (Verona, WI) and Deforest Middle School (DeForest, WI) and French at Monroe Middle School (Monroe, WI) Monroe High School (Monroe, WI) J.P. Stevens High School (San Antonio, TX) and Tafolla Multilingual Magnate School (San Antonio, TX).

Joan was cherished by and touched the lives of many different communities as a pastor’s wife including Lyonsville Congregational UCC (Indian Head Park, IL) Swiss UCC (New Glarus, WI) First Congregational Church (Council Bluffs, IA) Linfield UCC (Linfield, PA) and St. Paul UCC (Corpus Christi, TX).

Joan loved life and lived it to the fullest. She made countless mission trips to Mexico and El Salvador over the years, helped many people abroad, and forged beautiful friendships which lasted a lifetime. An intrepid traveler, Joan made her way all over Europe, including Russia, and Central America. She enjoyed reading, animals, Mexican food, puzzles, wine, cheese, beer and the Cubs. Our only solace is she lived more life every five years than most people do in a lifetime.

Survived by her loving husband Tom, sons Søren (Melissa), Malachi, Angelo, daughter Josefina, granddaughter Nevaeh, sisters Nancy Anthony, Linda Casillas, Carol Walls (John) and brother John Whitmore (Robin), and brother-in-law Kurt (Lois) and beloved dog Skeeter. Preceded in death by her parents Frank and Dale Whitmore (nee Keller) and loyal dog Tristan.

Joan was an outspoken supporter of social justice, racial equality, and true Christian values as taught by Jesus. Joan would be "tickled pink" if you made a contribution to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Doctors Without Borders in her name. There will be a gathering held in Mount Olive, IL at a later time this year once it is safer to do so.

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