Joanne Marguerite Bushnell

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Obituary. Joanne Starr, age 90, a longtime resident of the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton, IL area, died June 10, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born July 10, 1933, in Platteville, Wisconsin, to Raymond and Dorothy Bushnell. She was the sixth of eight children. Her father owned Ideal Dairy, and her mother was an accomplished classical pianist who taught piano lessons in the home.

Joanne was raised in the Free Methodist Church. In her teens, she attended Wessington Springs Academy (a Free Methodist boarding school) in South Dakota for her high school education. There, she met her first husband, Edward J. Rowley. They married after graduation in 1952 and then attended Greenville College. They had five children together.

Ed's career took them to Lake Villa, IL, where Ed worked as a social worker and later as the Director of Allendale School for Boys, a residential home and school. Joanne was called upon to fill various roles at Allendale, typing psychiatrist's reports, subbing as a school nurse, and filling in for cooks. As the director's wife, she also fulfilled many hospitality duties and attended social events.

In her early life, her primary role was that of mother and homemaker. She sewed much of her children's clothing, often making coordinating outfits to dress her daughters and son. While fastidiously maintaining their large home, she still found time to be active in the community and church. She was a Cub Scout and 4-H leader. Joanne and Ed sang in the church choir and often performed duets.

In her early 40s, Joanne took a job as a secretary for a real estate office in Glen Ellyn, IL. She later became a personal assistant for an agent in a Wheaton office. Her love of people, decorating, and homemaking led her to enjoy the business. So much so that at the age of 48, she decided to take the real estate exam to become a realtor. She was an accomplished realtor for 20+ years and became close to many of her clients, loving them and treating them as family. She retired in 2005.

Joanne was a 40+ year member of Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church. She sang in the choir, led Pioneer Girls, served as a deaconess, and participated on the hospitality committee.

Music was very important to Joanne throughout her life. She played the piano in her early years, especially for her own relaxation and enjoyment. Joanne loved providing hospitality, whether for a workplace, school, church, or family. She always felt called to care for others.

Joanne spent her last four years in memory care at Belmont Village Senior Living in Carol Stream, IL. Her family will be forever grateful to her caregivers who treated her with dignity and love.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Dorothy Bushnell; her daughter, Nanette Larson; and her siblings: Guerdon Bushnell, Bob Bushnell, Alice Markunas, Dottie Bennett, and Dick Bushnell. She is survived by her children: Wendy (Steve) Fedie, Kevin (Susan) Rowley, Christy (Steve) Otterbeck, Tina (Mark) King; her grandchildren: Kelly, Megan, Stefanie, Danielle, Kelsey, Cayla, Jonah, Jadon, and Tavis; her great-grandchildren: Quinn, Peyton, Slater, and Corbin; and her siblings: Larry Bushnell and Elizabeth Guyer.

A memorial service will be held at Platteville Free Methodist Church, 350 E. Furnace St., Platteville, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 1 pm, with the visitation at 12 pm. Interment will be held for the family immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association are welcome at www.ALZ.org.

Visitation
Platteville Free Methodist Church

Tuesday, June 18, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Joanne married Edward James Rowley. (Edward James Rowley was born on 4 May 1934 and died on 19 Oct 2004.)

Joanne next married Wiley.

Joanne next married Larry Starr.