Joan P Bergquist

Date of Birth

Nov 13,1934

Date of Death

Jun 05,2012

CONLEY FUNERAL HOME OBITUARY FORMDATE OF PUBLICATION REQUESTED: MEDIA: Elburn Herald, Kane County Chronicle, DeKalb Chronicle, Daily Herald FAMILY APPROVAL SIGNATURE: _________________________________________________Joan Phyllis Bergquist, age 77, of Elburn, passed away quietly Wednesday morning, June 5, 2012 at Delnor Community Hospital, Geneva, surrounded by the love and care of her family.Joan was born November 13, 1934, in Dundee, IL the daughter Anton and Hazel (Nehls) Oksas. She grew up in St. Charles, IL and graduated from St. Charles High School with the class of 1953. Following graduation, she went to work at Howell Manufacturing. When her high school sweetheart, Albert Bergquist, left for boot camp he proposed and told Joan she had six weeks to put a wedding together. While home on leave, Al and Joan were married on December 29, 1955 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in St. Charles.They began their new life, and spent their first holiday together, making their home on the corner of Keslinger Rd. and Rte. 47 in Elburn. Later, they would live in town at the Bateman house until 1958 when they moved their young family to the farm on Pouley Rd. A busy mother of two, Joan, who was a "city girl", began to learn about life on the farm. Within a few years, their family grew to include two more daughters and in that time Joan managed her home, the children, and cared for her in-laws as well. Life on the farm was never dull and occasionally full of excitement. Somehow Joan took it all in stride and her family remembers her as being "amazing" somehow managing everything that life brought her way.In the 1970’s, Joan worked for a time at Ball’s Seed Company. For a number of years, she was employed at Pathology Consultants in Geneva.In 1992, when the children were grown and life was slower Al bought a Goldwing motorcycle from a neighbor and they took to the road every weekend from March through October. There was no destination too far and over the years they covered every state except Alaska and Hawaii. They loved everything about those days on the road stopping to see interesting sights and traveling the back roads where the scenery was rich and beautiful. In 1996, they traded up for a newer model and then in 2003 they purchased a "Trike". The Trike travelled thousands of miles over highways and byways with Al in the driver’s seat and Joan perched behind him.Joan was an active member of Lord of Life Church, LaFox where she was involved in the Women’s Bible Study group and often served in the welcome center and as a greeter. She was a member of the Quivera Club in the early years; she and Al danced with the Sugar Squares and were members of the GWRRA Illinois B-2, DK of DeKalb, and Chapter V in Batavia. Recently, Joan became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post #630, Elburn. Joan was a trusted friend, a devoted wife and mother who was always there whenever they needed her. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the sunshine of her days and she delighted making holidays special for them. There were countless "parties" at grandma’s house complete with special treats and decorations. She was always in the stands to cheer on her grandchildren whatever sport they were involved in. They could always look up and see grandma on the bleachers. Joan leaves a legacy of love to be handed down from generation to generation and a lifetime of stories that will be told whenever family and friends are together. She is survived by four children: Vicki Bergquist of Elburn, Al "Butch" (Connie) Bergquist of Troxel, IL, Barbara (Patrick) Bradford of Maple Park, IL, and Mary (Chuck) Liss of Elburn; six grandchildren: Rebecca, nee Bradford (Ronald, Jr.) Edwards of Sycamore, IL; Ben and Blake Bradford of Maple Park; Mackenzie, Allison and Chuck Liss of Elburn; two great-grandchildren, Shelby and Bradford Edwards of Sycamore; one brother, Bob (Inga) Oksas of Maple Park; one sister, Carol Fabrizius of Maple Park; her brothers-in-law, Carl (Sharon) Bergquist of St. Charles and Norman (Diane) Bergquist of Elburn; her sister-in-law, Alice Nickels of Monroe, WI; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents; one sister-in-law, Diane Oksas; one brother-in-law, Joseph Fabrizius.Her visitation will be held Friday, June 8, 2012 from 1-3:45 p.m., at Lord of Life Church, Rte. 38 & LaFox Rd., LaFox. A service to celebrate her life will follow at 4 p.m. Interment will follow at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn.A memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Joan Bergquist Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes may be forwarded to the family at the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

Her visitation will be held Friday, June 8, 2012 from 1-3:45 p.m., at Lord of Life Church, Rte. 38 & LaFox Rd., LaFox. A service to celebrate her life will follow at 4 p.m.

Interment will follow at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn.

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