Joan Louise Hafer, 88, LaFontaine, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 1:33 p.m. on Friday, January 11, 2019, while residing at Rolling Meadows Health Care Center in LaFontaine. The daughter of Ray and Marie (Godshaw) Jackson, Joan was born in Fort Wayne on April 4, 1930, and graduated from Elkhart High School in 1948. That summer, on August 15, 1948, she married her loving husband, Dean Thomas Hafer, and he survives.
Joan and Dean had three children, Sharon, Douglas, and Darla. She worked at Hopman Jewelry in Elkhart, where she was a salesperson. She held memberships with Grace Lutheran Church, Eastern Star Starlight Chapter 181 in Elkhart since December of 1948, Red Hat Ladies, Quilting Questers Association in Goshen, and Antiques Association. She enjoyed quilting and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She will be missed by her husband of 70 years, Dean Hafer; children, Sharon (Leonard) Rogers, Marion, Douglas Hafer, Bristol, and Darla Helde, Yakima, WA; grandchildren, Brandon Jones, Tyler Messer, Diana Rogers, Sherri Lemon, Corey Lemon, Thomas Jones, Marie Hafer, and Juan Lopez; 6 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tina Winkler, and her brothers, Kenneth Jackson and Richard Jackson.
In accordance with the family’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service for Joan.
Arrangements are entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Memorial contributions may be directed to American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.