Joanne M. McNeil was born August 21, 1947. She was the daughter of US Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Delmer Walz and his wife Alice Washack, and enjoyed a short, fun childhood on a farm in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Her parents were much beloved, were married for 42 years, and can be credited for building the strong foundation that served Joanne throughout the rest of her life. Joanne was particularly proud to know that her dad spent Word War II serving on a ship patrolling the Coral Sea and that her mom was a dedicated home maker providing for her family. Joanne's parents moved the family to the Chicago area in 1951, where Joanne spent her formative years in the Homewood/Flossmoor area where she met John, her husband of 58 years. It is here that Joanne enjoyed a serene childhood, enjoying her siblings, and playing multiple sports for the HF Lady Vikings.
Much of her early life was spent working at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights as well as her dream job serving as Assistant to the Dean of Engineering for Bradley University in Peoria, IL. It was here at Bradley that Joanne learned the basics of office work, became an expert typist, learned short-hand dictation, and formed the leadership skills that would serve her well throughout her career. Joanne always said that her time at Bradley University laid the foundation for her life's work. It set the tone for all things to come.
With the help of her sister Darlene Rowell, and her husband Robert, Joanne moved to Oklahoma in the early 1980's, first living on the northwest side of town, then MayFair, Quail Creek and ultimately in the Stonegate area. After moving her family ten times, from northern and central Illinois, to Georgia, and then to multiple areas of Oklahoma City, always seeking to improve her family's surroundings, Joanne finally found a permanent home in the Stonegate neighborhood. She was so proud to finally become a home-owner after decades of toil and instability. She was happy to call herself an Oklahoman and loved her city, the zoo, the Thunder, libraries, antique shops, and the many small towns she visited. She would often say, "is this a great state or what?"
In addition to raising her two sons, and helping to raise her five grandchildren, she spent a great deal of time at JCPenney inside the former Shephard Mall, continually setting sales records for the women's department. Other employment that she was proud of include working in the office for Henderson Properties as well as for the dispatch department of the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Finally, in 1993, Joanne launched what would become her most fulfilling employment and vocation, one that would fundamentally change her life and offer the stability and enjoyment she yearned for. Outside of her family, Joanne's career working with the people at EMSA ambulance services, will be remembered as her life's crowning achievement. It was here that Joanne spent 29 years, forming hundreds of friendships, becoming beloved by paramedics, EMTs, office staff, and others. She cared for her co-workers and their families, and treated everyone she knew with respect and with friendship. When she saw an ambulance drive by she would always say "there goes EMSA," and would be personally interested in, not only the patient, but also the EMTs in the truck. She cared whether or not the EMTs had eaten enough at corporate picnics, needed help with payroll and retirement decisions, if they were saving enough for retirement, and whether or not they were being taken care of. Medics will know her by her medic number 5184.
In recent years, Joanne spent a great deal of time attending Life Church in northwest Oklahoma City where she volunteered her time greeting people, printing and distributing the church's Saturday message, engaging in her small-group, and enjoying the Saturday service. She believed in Jesus Christ and spent her happiest moments during this time praying and being among fellow believers at church.
Joanne is survived by her husband John V. McNeil IV, her sons John V. McNeil V, and Christopher Scott McNeil, her four grandchildren, Jason, Christopher, Scott, and Natalie, her great grandchildren and Jason's daughters, Jazahlyn and Ahnezalyn, her siblings Darlene Rowell, Kathy Osborne, Jackie Van Vliet, and Delmer Walz, and a whole host of friends and relatives. Namely among these is her niece Micki Drake, and her dear friends Lara Anne O'Leary, her son Colton Swain Braum, as well as her co-worker May Williams. She will also be missed by her family in Christ at Life Church, of which there are too many members to name.
Joanne is predeceased by her aforementioned parents, her brother Larry Walz, and her beloved first grandson John V McNeil VI.
She will be sorely missed, but we also celebrate her for the impact she had on her children and family, and a lifetime's worth of very close friends. Joanne liked to say, "and the world moves on, tomorrow is another day."
Joanne went to be with our Lord and Savior on July 13, 2024, and will be put to rest at the Waterloo Cemetery of north Edmond, OK, at a later date. A casual Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116 on August 2nd at 2:30pm.
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