Joan Nancy Jeske

A graveside service for Joan will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary and Crematory, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054.

March 27, 1932 - April 3, 2025

Joan Nancy Kumfert Jeske, a loving wife, mother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2025, in Carlsbad, California, at the age of 93.

Born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932, Joan Nancy and her twin sister, Jean Laurel, arrived in Joliet, Illinois, described by their family as "two little bunnies." Joan was preceded in death by her father, Albert Kumfert; her mother, Josephine (Gregule); her sisters, Jean (Gabriel) and Delores; her beloved husband of 62 years, Lloyd Paul Jeske; and her grandson, Derek Lloyd Jeske.

After graduating from Joliet High School and Joliet Community College, Joan began working at Blockson Chemical, where she met Lloyd. They married in January 1954, and Joan immediately embraced Lloyd's two sons, Kenneth Lloyd (Sheryl) and Steven Lloyd (Marcianne Zajeski), legally adopting them in 1968. Daughters Debra Joan Zack (Jerry) and Paula Jean Glassel (Donald) completed their family. Joan is survived by her children, five grandchildren: Karla (Greg) Friemark, Tamara (Ryan) Redmond, Karina (Nick) Carlson, Kyle (Katie) Jeske, and Joseph (Danielle) Werdein; and five great-grandchildren: Toby, Hawking, Charlee, Bradlee, and Riley.

Growing up in Joliet, Joan and her sister excelled at playing the piano and organ, performing in recitals and accompanying ensembles and churches. She also had a passion for dancing to big band music.

After marrying, the family moved to Kankakee, where they were loyal members of St. Mark United Methodist Church. There, Joan expanded her hobbies to include gardening, baking, bowling, and tennis.

Indian Lake in Michigan held a special place in Joan's heart, starting with visits as a teenager, then enjoying her folks' retirement home there, and later their own cabin on the sandy side of the lake.

A few years before Lloyd's retirement, the couple moved to West Bloomington, Minnesota. They joined Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church and embraced cross-country skiing. Joan was also a loving caregiver to both her mother and mother-in-law, who had also moved to Minnesota.

Joan cherished their annual timeshare visits to Cancun with family and friends in the winter. She also loved trips to Hawaii, Ireland, and the Holy Land, and enjoyed cruises, notably taking all four of their adult children and their spouses on a cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Once Lloyd retired, the couple decided to move to Southern California, where they thrived in the warm weather, building new friendships through Carlsbad Community Church and El Camino Country Club, where they enjoyed tennis and golf.

After Lloyd's passing in 2016, Joan continued to be blessed with family and friends. She moved from La Costa Glen to Glenbrook Care Center, where her smiles and humor brightened the days of both staff and residents. Even as her memories faded, her smiles never did.

We will all deeply miss Joan. She loved life, her family, friends, laughter, and dogs. She is now in her Lord’s home with her beloved husband and family.

A memorial service will be held at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, CA, at 2pm on August 9. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Brother Benno’s (https://brotherbenno.org/) or the Alzheimer’s Foundation (www.alz.org).