Joan Brown left this world for heaven on January 8, 2025. 

She is survived by her sister, Gail Koehnemann and "gobs of nieces and nephews". She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Elsie (Bailey) Brown; siblings Mary Russell, Joseph Brown, John Brown, Robert Brown, Michael Brown, Timothy Brown, and Jean Beck; and several of the nieces and nephews.

Joan was born on April 2, 1951, the ninth of nine children. She became an independent woman with a beautiful spirit, a sharp wit, and a ready laugh. She retired from the University of Illinois College of ACES in 2010. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

A service will be scheduled at a later date. Her ashes will be properly interred, and certainly NOT blown off the back of a pick up truck as it rushes down a two-lane highway, though she preferred the latter.