Joan M. Reeves

Joan was born July 15, 1933 in Bloomington, a daughter of Jerome Michael Larkin and Sadie Irene Leary Larkin. She graduated from Downs High School. She attended Illinois State Normal University. She married Leo Reeves on July 23, 1953 in Kenai, Alaska where they later became homesteaders and started their family. She was instrumental in getting Soldotna its first school. After returning to Bloomington, Joan worked for Funk Seeds International for 17 years as a lab supervisor and later as an administrative secretary. She then worked at Mennonite Hospital and Brokaw Hospital for the next 20 years - retiring from Human Resources in 2007.

Joan had a love for traveling. She visited all fifty states and more than twenty countries including New Zealand, China, Switzerland and many European countries. She always looked forward to planning her next trip. She was the founder of the Heartland Singles group. Joan thoroughly enjoyed attending the many activities of her grandchildren. She was a caring and loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by two sons, David (Sharon) Reeves, Bloomington and Greg (Michelle) Reeves, Normal, four daughters; Kathleen Cooley, Lisa (Scott) Edlund both of Bloomington; Teresa (Edward) Anderson, Towanda and Colleen (Tom Boots) Reeves, Anchorage, Ak. She is also survived by 7 granddaughters, Kristie (fiancé Tom Toohill) Kowall of Normal; Vicki Cooley and Kelly Lloyd, both of Bloomington; Lauren Reeves, Chicago, Il.; Jenna (Trevor) Conlin, Rockford, Mi.; Elizabeth and Katie Reeves, Normal, three great - grandsons; Kendrick, Kevin and Maverick and two great - granddaughters; Anna and Zavia.

Other survivors are one sister Mary Shadowens, Phoenix; three brothers, Larry Larkin, Georgetown, Texas; Michael Larkin, Plattsburg, Mo.; and Jerome (Diane) Larkin, Elkhart, Ind. and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, two sisters, Betty and Alice and three brothers, Bob, Rich and Tom, preceded her in death.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Eastview Christian Church, Normal. Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2017 at East Lawn Funeral Home. There will also be a one hour visitation prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Graveside service will follow at East Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorials can be made to St Jude and the YMCA 602 S Main St. Bloomington.

Special thanks to Advocate BroMenn, Heritage Health in Bloomington, Bickford Senior Living and to her caregivers Rowena, Emily and Gwen for the wonderful care they provided.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at eastlawn-bloomington.com