Joan Lynn Sowers

Joan Lynn Sowers, age 77 of the Creve Coeur area of West St. Louis County, Missouri, asleep in Jesus, Sunday, January 23, 2022. She was born to the late Hugo and Neoma (nee Borrenpohl) Hasheider and grew up in Normandy. She was the beloved sister of Mark (Debbie), Jay (Bonnie) and Tim (Karen) Hasheider, Kathy (Kevin) Brennan and the late Glenn (Joyce) Hasheider. Sister-in-law to Larry (Carol) Sowers, Marlene (L.D.) Pitcher, Albert (Carolyn) Sowers, the late Virginia (late Roy) Goebel, the late Janet (late Raymond) Pitcher, the late Joann (late Oliver) Corbin and the late Carolyn (late Doyle) Webb. Joan was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Okawville, Illinois and she was confirmed at Unity Lutheran Church in Bel-Nor. She graduated from Normandy High School, then attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, majoring in Education and participating in Track & Field, Field Hockey, gymnastics, and modern dance. Following her graduation from Mizzou, Joan was hired by the University of Maine and spent one year as their modern dance instructor. While in St. Louis, on a break from the University of Maine, Joan spiked a volleyball on the head of a handsome man who later asked her out on a date. After a few dates with Bob, Joan gave notice to the University of Maine and they were engaged six months later. Joan and Bob were married on June 29, 1968, and enjoyed 53 blessed years together. They had four children, Julie Elizabeth, Mark Robert, Steven Matthew and Katherine Lynn. Joan taught physical education at Normandy High School for three years, and after her first daughter was born, she stayed home for 14 years to raise her children. She went back to teaching at Pattonville High School in 1985 as an in-school detention teacher, before securing a permanent physical education position at Holman Middle School where she worked for 23 years. At Holman, she started a program that took students skiing at Hidden Valley if they passed their Presidential Fitness Test. In addition, while teaching at Holman, Joan obtained her Masters in Education from Lindenwood University where she was eight hours from getting her doctorate. She received the Pride of Pattonville award and was nominated frequently for Teacher of the Year. Joan retired from teaching in 2012 to spend more time with Bob and her 11 grandchildren. Joan’s great passions were playing golf, traveling, spending time with Bob, her children, and grandchildren. Her weekends would often be filled with golf outings, attending grandchildren’s events, or socializing. Joan was famous for her parties, especially her Christmas Eve party and Christmas friends party. In the evenings you could find her out with friends or on the dance floor with Bob, showing off her amazing splits! Joan’s greatest joys were her family and friends. Joan was the loving wife of Bob Sowers for 53 years; beloved mother and mother-in-law of Julie and Marc, Mark and Christie, Steve and Robin, and Katie and Dan; cherished grandmother of Alex, Caroline and Jack Bahr; Lauren, Kate and Andrew Sowers; Kaitlyn, Abbey and Anna Sowers; Ella and Luke Krenning; and dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, godmother, and friend. Services: Visitation at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, MO 63141 on Thursday, January 27 from 4-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 9733 Olive Blvd., Olivette, MO 63132 on Friday, January 28 at 11 a.m. with visitation at the church at 10 a.m. Interment at Bellerive Gardens Cemetery immediately following the service. A luncheon will follow the burial at the home of Julie and Marc Bahr. Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran School Tuition Assistance Fund or charity of your choice.

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Joan Lynn Sowers

July 12, 1944 - January 23, 2022