Joan Lombard

Born August 26, 1933 in St. Louis, Mo., Joan was the fourth of nine children born to her parents Raymond and Mary Jackson. Growing up, Joan enjoyed spending time with her grandma Jose who lived with the family, swimming at the Soulard Pool, taking her younger siblings to Lafayette Park, and watching movies at the Merry Widow Show Theater. She also enjoyed playing baseball and would always display a youthful grin in her later years when she would tell people that she was a pretty good ballplayer. Joan attended McKinley High School in the city.

After high school, Joan married Charles Lombard in 1954 and moved to East St. Louis to start a family. Joan and her husband had three children. While the family lived in East St. Louis, Joan was a devoted housewife raising her children and served as president of the PTA. Joan and her husband’s house was often the gathering point for their siblings to spend time together playing games on the weekends. Joan and her family enjoyed taking summer vacations camping at Table Rock Lake. The family also spent time together taking Sunday drives, fishing, and going to drive-in movies.

In 1971, Joan and her family moved to O’Fallon where she became very active with the Nazarene Church. Joan sang in the choir and had a special fondness for the song “What a Day it Will Be”, and she also taught Sunday school. The kindness, patience, and love Joan gave to her pupils was on display in her last days when many of her former students visited, sent flowers or called to give their best wishes. Joan’s faith was very important to her and she continued attending church services up to the last week of her life.

Joan, or Ms. Joan, was also a staple in the community working as the crossing guard at E.K. School in O’Fallon for 27 years. She cherished her job seeing young kids every day and was able to see many of the kids she helped in her early years return as parents with their kids in her later years. One of the boys returned as a young man and built her a covered bench for his Eagle Scout project. When Joan retired, E.K. School gave her a wonderful assembly, and took a picture of Joan with all of the children attending E.K. at the time that is still proudly displayed in the school today.

Outside of work and church, Joan had many interests. She was a devoted grandmother and great grandmother. All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren will forever remember the sacred snack drawer in her kitchen containing varieties of little cakes. She was an avid fan of the Cardinals and rarely missed a game. Every Christmas her homemade fudge and peanut butter balls became coveted by her family. Throughout her life, Joan had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. She gave an abundance of love and always displayed gratitude and humility. She was truly a special and sweet lady who will forever leave an impact on the lives of her friends and loved ones she has left behind.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Lombard; parents, Raymond and Mary Jackson; older brothers Jack Jackson and Johnny Jackson; younger brother Jimmy Jackson.

Joan is survived by her children, Charles Lombard Jr., Sharon McGarvy (Steve Sanford), and Karen Lombard; her grandchildren, Justin Lombard (Rebecca Sharpe), Ben Lombard, Jennifer McGarvy, Aaron Lombard (Jessica Curtis), Anna Marie Emmerich (Christian Emmerich); great grandchildren, Rilee McGarvy, Madison Emmerich, Jack Emmerich, Cole Emmerich, Sam Emmerich, Rafe Schmitz, Kyle Schmitz; her siblings, Robert Jackson (Joan Jackson), Mary Jackson, Pat Jackson (Sheila Jackson), Ellen Sauers, Michael “Rusty” Jackson (Maureen Jackson); loving family friends JoAnn Brinker and Doris “Laverne” Vivian. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home, 5000 N. Illinois St. Fairview Heights, IL. 62208. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 13th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. The funeral will be held at Lakeview Funeral Home Thursday, April 14th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers or donations, please feel free to offer memorial contributions to Heartland Hospice or Parkview Nazarene Church. Memories and messages of condolences may be made at www.lakeviewfunerlhm.com.