Joan E. Thomas

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 4:34 pm

Joan E. Thomas, 72, of Streamwood, Ill., passed away Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Ill., surrounded by her loved ones. A Mass is set for Saturday, May 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the family.

Joan was born Aug. 10,1946, in Decorah. She was the daughter of Earl and Gertrude Yarwood.

Joan attended nursing school and graduated in 1979 with an LPN degree. She moved to Elgin, Ill. in 1989, and worked as a nurse at Sherman Hospital and various nursing homes in and around the Elgin area. Joan devoted her life to taking care of others.

Joan enjoyed good food, socializing with friends, reading and playing bingo – though being with her family was the greatest gift of all.

Joan is survived by her brother, Glen (Woody) Yarwood; five daughters: Teresa (Tom) Ford, Tamara (Ron) Weedin, Tracy (Steve) Knutson, Tonya (Rolan) Salvanera, Tina (Nick) Pelinski; eight grandchildren: Stephanie (David) Zamot, Aubrey Thomas, Justin Kosek, Hannah Kosek, Caitlyn Weedin, Dylan Salvanera, Dawson Weedin and Brandon Ford; and one great-grandchild, Delia Zamot.