Joan Eke

Joan M. Eke, age 78 of Sauk Centre, died on January 5, 2009 at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, January 9 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sauk Centre with Ronald Pettit officiating.

Joan Marjorie Eke was born on February 12, 1930 in Hoseley, Suffolk, England to Frederick and Marjorie (Gibling) King. She worked with her parents in a machinery dealership after school and then went on to work as a nurse for two years. She returned to help her parents at the Black Swan Inn. Joan married Stanley E. Eke on September 29, 1951 in South Creek, England. She and Stanley had 4 children, which she stayed home to care for until they purchased a milk distribution business, working side by side delivering bottled milk, cheese and butter. Together they added a paper route to coincide with distributing milk. Joan and Stanley came to America in 1971 with their four children and a 4'x4' crate of belongings. They flew to Omaha, Nebraska to begin their new life. In Omaha, Joan worked for a mobile home sales company. In 1973 they moved to New London, Minnesota and Joan was employed at New London Public Schools in the Head Start program. While she was working at the school, Joan attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, to continue her own education. They then moved to Belgrade where Joan helped on a dairy farm. Once again they moved in 1985 to Sauk Centre. In Sauk Centre, Joan helped manage the Centre Square apartment complex.Joan enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting and quilting. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sauk Centre.

Joan is survived by her husband of 57 years, Stanley Eke of Sauk Centre; children, Peter Eke of Sauk Centre, Sally (Edward) Jaeger of Richmond, David (Sheila) Eke of Sauk Centre, and Carol (Joe) Tabatt of Sauk Centre; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Queenie Cousins and Maureen (John) Bowery.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Marsha Boe; great-grandson, Tyler Boe.