Joan H. Carlson, 88, of Galesburg, died Saturday, November 19, 2022 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg.
Joan Helyn Carlson was born on August 17, 1934, in Galesburg, Illinois, the daughter of Raymond G. and Juanita B. Carlson, of Knoxville, Illinois. She was married to Ben H. Sherwood from June 26, 1955 to 1991.
Surviving Joan are one son and two daughters, Bill (and Janis) Sherwood of Vista, California; Pam (and Dave) Pickrel, Galesburg, and Melissa (and Pierre) Brondeau, New Hope, Pennsylvania, one brother, Jim Carlson, Galesburg; grandchildren Jennifer (and Rene) Chavarria, Amanda (Jeff Harness) Sherwood, Pete (and Natalie) Ingarra, Andy Ingarra, Tony (and Alexandria) Ingarra; Stephan (and Chelsea) Brondeau, Ben (and Alison) Brondeau, great grandchildren George, James Ingarra and Lorenzo Ingarra; Emma, Lizzie and Audrey Brondeau. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Sawyer Sherwood, two sisters-in-law Judy Carlson and Diane Carlson and a special friend John Larson.
Joan was a graduate of Knoxville High School and Monmouth College. She was a substitute teacher in Galesburg and Monmouth schools. In 1974 she established and was the first manager of Cottage Corner Thrift Shop, a fundraising project of the Cottage Hospital Service Guild, Galesburg. Later she was the manager of The Toy Store, Beloit, Wisconsin; a tax preparer for H & R Block, Crystal Lake, Illinois; an administrative assistant for Bailey Financial, Galesburg, then managed Cottage Corner Thrift Shop again from 1992 to 2000. Joan then worked as a teller at First Bank, Knoxville. She had been a member of PEO and Clio Club and was a past member of First Presbyterian Church where she served as a secretary of the board of trustees and as an elder.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory. A Celebration of Life will be held next spring. Memorials should be directed to Fight ALD Foundation, 1256 Eucalyptus Ave, Vista, CA 92084 or Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
