Joan M. Wentworth, 85, died Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at her son’s home surrounded by family.

Public visitation will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on August 3, 2024, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa. Public Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m. at Carson’s with ash burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Pastor Carolyn Keck officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her 7 grandchildren,  Billy and Brian Goeke, Walter and Jake Wehr, Laura and Cole Wentworth, and Rachel Denner.

Joan Marsha (Stoll) Wentworth was born January 6, 1939, in Moline, Ill. to Cecil D. & Pearl (Hopson) Stoll.  She graduated from Maquoketa Community High School in 1956, and from St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sept. 9, 1959.

She worked at the Jackson Co. Public Hospital as a Registered Nurse until 1971, when she went to work at Medical Associates of Maquoketa.

She entered into the Family Nurse Practitioner program at University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, N.D. on Oct. 7. 1974, graduating from that program on Sept. 26. 1975. Becoming one of the 1^st 6 Family Nurse Practitioners in the state of Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Dubuque in 1986. Later she worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner & Program Administrator with Savanna & Carroll Co. Health Service in Savanna IL.

She began as Director of the Home & Community Health Care Department (County Nurse) in 1987 to 1994. She was in charge when the Health Cruise, a weight loss program, was coordinated by several local agencies in the early 1990s. She left that position in 1994.  The next year she resumed her career as a Family Nurse Practitioner with Women’s Health Services.  She retired March 1, 2004.

Joan married Wm. Wentworth, her high school sweetheart, on Oct. 11, 1959 in Maquoketa. They spent most of their married life on the Wentworth ancestral family farm in rural Preston, where they raised 3 children.

She was an avid quilter and a long-time member of the Town & Country Quilters. She spent many years as the Archivist for the Jackson Co. Historical Society. She also loved to read and took special pleasure in her grandchildren and great-grandsons.

Joan is survived by her husband, Wm.; children, LuAnn (Jim) Goeke of Maquoketa, Donald (Carol) Wentworth of Preston and Carolyn (Walter) Wehr of Olathe KS. They have 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons. She is additionally survived by several nieces and nephews. Also survived by her self-appointed guardian and caregiver, Marvel, who lay next to her for countless hours, providing comfort, companionship and amusement.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, her brother, Jack, who was killed in the Great Belvedere (IL.) Tornado of April 21, 1967. Also, a half-brother, Jackie, who died when he was 10.

Special Thank You to Hospice of Jackson County, and, Caroline Bredekamp, (night caregiver), who made it possible for Joan to stay at home with her family during her final year.

Thank you as well to all her friends at the Jackson Co. Historical Society, who accepted her as she was and offered her unwavering friendship and support.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.