Joan Marie Taylor (Brandel) went peacefully to the Lord on the evening of October 6, one day after her 80th birthday. She died of complications from diabetes.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Spirit Parish – Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 10:30 am on Friday, October 11, 2019 with Rev. Father Steven Garner as the celebrant. After Mass, families and friends will celebrate in Joan’s life with a luncheon in Holy Ghost Paraclete Hall. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 10th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service at 3860 Asbury Road, where a prayer service will be held at 4:00 pm.

Born October 5th, 1939 to Charles and Edna (Hirsch) Brandel in Dubuque, Joan graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy. After X-ray training, she served as a technician in Mason City, Iowa and later at Xavier Hospital, in Dubuque.

She married Raymond J. Taylor on September 30th, 1961 and they resided in Dubuque. Ray and Joan celebrated 58 years of marriage the week of her passing.

Joan was a stubborn, spunky lady of German descent, who loved the Lord and her family and especially, her little dog, Maddie. She loved to read romance novels, do puzzles, feed her birds and the other assorted wildlife that visited her back porch. She loved Christmas and loved spoiling her grandkids even more. Those who knew her later in life knew that Tuesday was her favorite day of the week because every Tuesday her grandchildren Audrey (4) and Eric (2) visited her. Even when she couldn’t walk or care for a toddler, she insisted she couldn’t make any plans (including dialysis treatments) stressing the fact that she needed to babysit her grandkids.

Joan is survived by her five children: Mark (Kelley) Taylor and Chris (Karen) Taylor of Dubuque, Dan (Sarah) Taylor of Manchester, IA, Rea Ann (Dan) Paustian of Granger, IA, and Sara (Joel) Fagen of Arlington, VA. Her children cherished their mother, a love that was passed onto her grandchildren: Michael, Matthew, Rebecca, Katelyn, Hannah, Tanner, Millie, Isaac, Audrey, and Eric. Joan is also survived by an older brother, Ronald (Dori) Brandel of Dubuque, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her parents-in-law, Francis and Dorothy Taylor of Holy Cross, Iowa and brothers-in-law, Frank Taylor, Charles Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Duane “Red” Even, and Wayne Kahle. And, a sister-in-law, Marie Taylor.

Joan’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many caregivers from No Place Like Home who compassionately cared for their mother as well as the doctors, nurses and staff from Tri-State Dialysis who supported their mother during her years of dialysis treatments.

A photo tribute can be viewed, and condolences can be sent by visiting Joan’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com