Joan Kirkham

Joan Kirkham was born Aug. 19, 1934, in Frederick, Ill., the daughter of James Ezekiel and Margaret Caroline Irvin Bishop. She married Edgar Kirkham April 8, 1952, in Beardstown, Ill., and he preceded her in death Jan. 10, 2016.
Joan grew up near her husband’s family in Frederick, and they had quite the village between both big families. She attended Brick School where she met Helen Litner, Patricia Schwalb, and Marilyn Seymour and they all remained close lifelong friends.
Joan then attended Beardstown High School class of 1953, and soon after was married to Edgar.
At age 40 she received her Liberal Arts Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from Joliet Junior College. She started a second career after her son graduated and joined the U.S. Air Force. Joan retired as a data technical analyst-computer programmer from TransUnion in downtown Chicago, Ill.
After retirement, Joan and her husband spent their time between Beardstown and North Fort Meyers, Fla., and throughout their journey found time to visit all 50 states, Mexico, Australia and several provinces in Canada.
Her interest in music started at a young age. Joan loved to sing and was still leading worship songs for chapel and old-time sing-alongs at Holiday Hills Independent Living up until a few months ago. Her favorite music was Western Gospel and she read many western novels. Joan’s life was dedicated to learning, serving and teaching about Christ. She cherished the time she had with her Beardstown First Christian Church family. In 2016 she was able to move to South Dakota and spent her remaining years with her son and his family. No matter where Joan was, she never met a stranger and everyone loved her.
Joan, of Custer, S.D., and formerly of Beardstown, went home to be with her Lord Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Clarkson Mountain View Health Care in Rapid City S.D., having suffered a series of strokes. She was 89.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and all of her 12 brothers and sisters including most recently her brother Harold Eugene (surviving wife Zelda) Bishop.
Joan is survived by her son Allen (wife Jill) Kirkham of Custer; two granddaughters, Megan (husband Austin) Brummer of Rapid City and Andrea (husband Joshua) William of Remsem, N.Y.; six great-grandchildren, Joey, Solly, Ella, Paige, Zoe and Ezra; a whole host of nieces and nephews; and countless friends she’s met along her journey.  
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, July 20, at First Christian Church in Beardstown with Pastors Mike Courson and Rob Kirkham officiating. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the Beardstown City Cemetery.
Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to Beardstown Christian Academy or Cass/Schuyler Area Hospice.
Condolences may be left online at colwellmemorial
home.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.