She was born on December 10, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. Joan grew up as an only child. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Ottawa, Illinois, during wartime. She later graduated from Lyons Township High School, class of 1953, and attended the University of Wisconsin for one year before beginning employment at General Motors. Joan was also employed later in life in the payroll department of Grayhill, Inc.
Joan married David Holwick in 1962 after meeting him in a ski club. They were married 41 years at the time of his passing in 2003. She lived in the Chicago area for 71 years before relocating to Arkansas from La Grange, Illinois.
Joan was an active person who loved her family, socializing with her friends, skiing, bowling, and tennis. She also loved travel, reading, dogs, and watching the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband David, her father Harrison Arthur Schumacher, and her mother Pauline Jessie (Tallut) Schumacher.
She is survived by her daughter Diane Holwick of Fort Smith, Arkansas, her son Scott Holwick and his wife Jen Kemp of Longmont, Colorado, and her two grandchildren, Eva and Adam Holwick.
We will remember Joan as a smart, pragmatic, independent, and generous person. She was also a survivor of widowhood, relocation, cancer, and flooding. We hope you will remember Joan as a good friend.
There are no services scheduled; cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
Memorials may be made to the Friends of the Fort Smith Public Library or the Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72903 www.fortsmithlibrary.org, or your local library or animal shelter.
