Joan Audree Walburn

Joan Audree Walburn was born in Leaf Mountain Township in Ottertail County, MN on October 29, 1941. As a child she moved to Urbank and then later to Alexandria. She married Roger at the age of 16 and they started their family in Alexandria.   In 1963, they moved to Rochester, MN, and then to Moline, IL in ‘65. Four years later the family moved to San Leandro, CA. 1970 brought yet another move, to Union City and then two years later they settled in Vacaville for the next 20 years, which is where they raised their family. In ‘92, they moved to Green Bay, WI for 24 years. In all of the places they lived while running a household and caring for her family Joan also worked outside the home in many different capacities.  The last position she held was in photo developing.  Their last move brought them to their final home in Great Falls, MT in 2016.

Joan was truly the glue that held her family together. So much of her identity was wrapped up in being a wife, mother, grandmother and later a great grandmother. She upheld all the family traditions and was always at the center of everything.  She always answered the phone and was known for her long conversations and getting the details on all the happenings of everyone’s lives. For Joan, food was love. Whether it was a big pot roast dinner or frozen cookies in the garage freezer, if some was good, more was better. While sitting around the table at a family meal, she would always be planning the next and no meal was ever served without dessert. She was present for everyone and everything and was the heart of the family. She had a quick wit and could play a mean hand of Uno. Joan was a true matriarch.

Joan went to heaven April 15th, Good Friday, exactly 48 years to the day that her mother passed away. Joan was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Roger Walburn, her daughter Sharon Bannon and her husband Marty, daughter Lona Walburn and her partner Mari and her son Bruce Walburn. She left behind six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, as well as four sisters. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers, father-in-law and beloved mother-in-law.

Family and friends will gather for a Memorial Service for Joan in June.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan’s name for Alzheimer’s research at Alzheimer's Foundation of America | Donate  alzfdn.org , a cause near and dear to the family’s heart.  

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com

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