Joan was born November 24, 1930 the first of three children of William Wayne and Alice Emma Gibbs. She was born and raised in Seattle, graduating from Laurelhurst Grade School, Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington. Her younger sister Gail Irene Hanscom resided in Arizona and her younger brother Richard Carl Gibbs currently resides in Carnation Washington. Joan was married in 1953 and had four children Mark R. Iverson (deceased), Scott E. Iverson, Enid E. "Tina" Roy and Tira K. Hancock. Joan also had ten grandchildren (Bridget, Rachel, Andrew, Jennifer, Blake, MacKenzie, Kendall, Chance, Hayley and Dalton) and eleven great grandchildren (Jayden, Kylee, Kayla, Sai, Zalina, Olivia, Gavin, Jordan, Madalyn, Cole and Chance Jr.) Her children's father preceded her in death. Joan married James Ventenbergs in 1995 at a national square dancing convention in Birmingham, Alabama. She has four step children and five step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. Family gatherings were all important occasions, especially holidays where she cooked up a storm for all.
Joan started dancing when she was only two years old and continued to express her creativity in this manner with her husband James well into her years. Joan and James were regular C1 dancers. Joan's upbringing in the classics, both ballet and piano, made her a natural in square and round dancing.
Joan was a natural born teacher and showed this at a young age as a "bossy" neighborhood leader. She taught all levels of public school, but her main area was in Special Education for the profoundly disabled where she was a dedicated educator for Bellevue Public Schools for over 35 years. She also taught at Wash-Lee High school in Arlington, VA, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Public schools and had her own business Ibt4 which taught teachers how to teach. In addition to teaching, Joan was a faithful Ombudsman for the State of Washington for twelve years.
Joan loved travel, which she often did with her husband or two girls, to many places around the world. She was most fond of animals. Horses, dogs and cats were in her life from her time as a small child. She always took good care of them and made sure they had excellent food and shelter. She enjoyed showing the animals, especially along with her daughters. She was an active member of the Arena alumni from the U of WA school of drama for over 60 years, the Rainier chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and an avid supporter and proud member of the Nicholas Gibbs Historical Society in Corryton, TN.
Joan was known for her energy, assertiveness, organization, garden and love of work. She believed that a person must keep their body and mind busy and occupied to stay healthy. Joan passed away on May 4, 2021 from congestive heart failure at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan on Wednesday June 2nd from 3pm to 6pm at 210 10th Ave Kirkland, WA 98033
Donation suggestions for remembrances can be sent to:
The Nicholas Gibbs Historical Society
or
The Drama Department scholarship fund at the University of Washington
Joan Iverson’s Memorial by James Ventenbergs
I met Joan in a square dance class, Jan 1994, and was attracted to her immediately. I offered to drive her to our class and Joan invited me for hot chocolate. On Valentine’s day I gave her a fancy flower arrangement. Joan started cooking dinner for us at her condo in Kirkland.
We had a new townhouse built in summer of 1995 in Waterford Court, Kirkland. Joan and I were married on stage at the Birmingham, Alabama, national square dance convention. There is a picture of us in the February 1996 Smithsonian. The Baptist minister we had contacted was late and we had to find a substitute in the audience to give us our vows.
Joan continued working as a substitute Teacher, while I retired. Joan was always hard working, energetic and reliable. She was good looking, well dressed and behaved as a lady in public. Joan could assert herself. When a tall teenager climbed over our fence as a shortcut thru Waterford Court Joan told him to climb right back and he obeyed.
In 1999 we sold our townhouse and had a home built at 210 10th Ave Kirkland, where we lived to this day. Joan continued to work until 2014 and I worked 2006-2008. Joan liked flowers and we had many rhododendrons and azaleas planted. We square danced, traveled and visited family and friends.
On Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas eve out families of about 30 came to our house. Joan worked hard on the preparations. One Easter Tira came with one of her horses and people were riding it in our driveway.
Starting March 2020 Joan was on a continuous oxygen generator 24/7 at home. To go on trips Joan used bottled oxygen. For a while an inogen was used. Saturday May 1, 2021 Joan went to Urgent Care and then the Overlake hospital. Thanks to Tina I could stay with Joan late at night. Scott, Tina, Tira and I visited Joan on Monday. As I left Joan whispered ‘thank you’ which was all she could do. It was emotional. Joan died Tuesday morning May 4, 2021. Her brother, I and her family came.
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