Joan Lee (Duffield) Farrell, daughter of A.T. and Goldie (Vickroy) Duffield, was born on September 11, 1931, in Chariton, Iowa. She passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at the Circle of Life Legacy Lodge in Chariton.

            Joan attended grade school and high school in Chariton, graduating in 1949.Following graduation, Joan was hired as Dwight Vredenburg’s secretary at theChariton Wholesale Office. While working there, she was one of three individuals who submitted the name, “Hy-Vee”, in a contest to re-name the Hyde’s Food Stores and Supply Stores. She thought of the name “Hy-Vee” because of its two founders, Mr. Charles Hyde and Mr. David Vredenburg.

            Joan was united in marriage to Edward Lewis Farrell on March 17, 1951 at the Sacred Heart Church in Chariton. Two daughters were blessed in this union—Patricia Ann on April 2, 1956, and Janice Lee on December 5, 1962. Joan worked part-time in offices until she retired in 1999, because of health reasons.

            Joan was active in P.T.A. when her daughters were in school, was a member of Farm Bureau, Sacred Heart Confraternity (where she served as an officer, and on various church committees for many years.) She was instrumental in forming the New Horizons Widow’s Support Group, in 1984, after her husband’s death, and continued as it’s leader for 20 years.

            Joan enjoyed music, dancing with her husband, eating out with friends, cooking for family get-togethers, and most of all; later in life, attending sports and school events of her grandchildren. Joan would like to be remembered for the above-mentioned things, as well as her sense of humor, and her love for her family.

            She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed in 1984;  her brothers, Jim, Verle, Dean, and Hugh Duffield; and her sisters, Alice Duffield, Jean Wlosek, Helen Kellar, and Edithe Daugherty.

            Survivors include her loving daughters, Patty (Brian) Carlson of Ft. Dodge and Jan (Terry) Baughman of Chariton; her six precious grandchildren, Zach Baughman, Chelsey (Dustin) Wickett and Jordan Baughman, and Maria, Matthew, and Michael Carlson; and great-grandchildren, Dayton and Paisley Wickett; several sister-in-laws, plus many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

God’s Garden

God looked around His garden

and found an empty place.

He then looked down upon the earth

and saw your tired face.

He put His Arms around you

and lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful;

He always takes the best.

He saw the road was getting rough,

and the hills were hard to climb,

so He closed your weary eyelids

and whispered, “Peace be thine.”

It broke our hearts to lose you,

but you didn’t go alone,

for part of us went with you

the day God called you home.

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