Joan Marie Eilers

Joan Marie Eilers, 85, formerly of Annawan, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Avonlea Cottage, Milan.  There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 10:00 am at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo, IL with visitation held prior to the funeral from 9:00-10:00.  The service will be livestreamed at Vandemore Funeral Home’s Facebook page.  Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Annawan.  Vandemore Funeral Homes and Crematory will be assisting the family.  Memorials may be made to the Annawan-Alba Township Library, Sacred Heart Church or St. Malachy Church.

Joan Marie Grypp was born on February 11, 1936, in Atkinson, IL, the daughter of Walter and Margaret (Mariman) Grypp.  She graduated from Annawan High School in 1953 and married her high school sweetheart, Franklin Eilers, on May 28, 1955. He preceded her in death in 2001.  Joan lived most of her life in the Annawan area farming alongside her husband on farms near Hooppole, Mineral and finally the family homestead south of Annawan.

Love of God, love of family and friends, love of learning, and love of her country were the guiding forces throughout her life.  Joan was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, and later St. Malachy, serving as a lector, communion minister, and CCD teacher.  She was also active in the Cursillo community.  Joan was an election judge for Alba township for over 20 years.  And she loved to help put up and take down the flags for the Geneseo Aisle of Flags.  Joan was a life-long learner.  She loved to read, especially poetry, and experience new things through traveling, music concerts, and theater.  But Joan especially loved her family and friends - whether it was gathering for holidays, birthdays, or family reunions, attending grandchildren’s activities, coffee with friends, long phone calls to loved ones, or sharing her delicious baked goods, she was happiest when doing things with and for others.

Those left to cherish her memory include children, Cynthia (Tim) Wells, Geneseo, Maureen Eilers, Rockport, MA, John (Tammy) Eilers, Galena, Walter (Beth) Eilers, Geneseo, and Charles Eilers (Rockford); grandchildren, Elizabeth (Ben) Knecht, Anna (Matthew) Kreiser, Nicholas (Adena) Eilers, Rachel Barkules, Jaclyn Hill,  Alex and Rebecca Eilers, Samantha (Matthew) Ruiz, Veronica and Katerina Eilers and 9 great-grandchildren.  Additional survivors include brothers, Dave (Betty) Grypp and Larry (Linda) Grypp; sisters, Mary Ann (Ralph) Blackert, Janet (Mike) Schneider and Connie (Rick) Altman; brother-in-law, Arlyn Clementz; brother-in law and sister-in law Gene and Phyllis Eilers; sisters-in-law, Venita Ewing and Eileen Eilers.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; son, Jim Eilers; granddaughter, Leah Wells; sister, Judy Clementz; brothers and sisters-in-law, Al & Cheryl Eilers and Ron and Alvina DeSplinter; brother-in-law, Kenny Eilers; and sister-in-law, Ruth Eilers.