JoAnne F Richardson

JoAnne was born August 21, 1931, in Humansville, Missouri, the daughter of Monroe Austin Fields and Jessie Lee (Higgins) Fields. She graduated from Humansville High School and St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her registered nursing degree in 1952. Joanne worked at St. Luke’s Hospital and the, then brand new, Veterans Hospital in Kansas City, where she met Robert J. Richardson D.D.S., M.D. and they were married on February 19, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri. They moved to Peoria, Illinois in July, 1958 to establish Dr. Richardson’s plastic surgery practice and raise their family. Dr. Richardson passed away on April 29, 1992.

Survivors include her three daughters: Beverly Harn Terry (Patrick Terry) of Morrisville, NC: Judith Lee Richardson of Apex, NC; Mary Richardson Guhl (Brian Guhl) of Naples, Florida; seven grandchildren: Lindsey Harn Schroeder (Gregg Schroeder) of Wilmington, NC; Allison Blair Harn (Kyle Spivey) of Cary, NC; Jeremy Harn (Mariya Harn) of Raleigh, NC; Wm. Robert Nelan of Alpharetta, GA; Austin Lee Nelan (Ashley Nelan) of San Antonio, TX; Austin Robert Guhl (Victoria DiSciullo) of Springfield, MO and Colton Lars Guhl of Orlando, FL; six great grandchildren; her older brother: Howard Fields of Waldport, Oregon; along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews who all affectionately called her “Aunt Jo”. She was predeceased by her older sister Frances Fields Yoder of Holden, MO, in 2024.

When JoAnne and her husband moved to Peoria, they instantly made it their forever home. JoAnne was very active nearly her entire life in Peoria, in efforts that supported her husband, her daughters and so many organizations that held value to her personally or the community that she called home for 67 years. She spent decades volunteering to make life better for others. She was a volunteer tour guide at the Allied Agency Center for 10 years; a volunteer with the Peoria Medical Alliance at Belwood Nursing home since 1971; a driver for the Visiting Nurse Association Meals on Wheels program for 20 years; a Girl Scout leader; a volunteer at the Salvation Army for 20 years, assisting with the summer camp program and at Christmas helping with the Red Stocking Christmas Basket applications. She received the “Others” award from the Salvation Army in 1983. She was active in the Peoria District Dental Auxiliary, serving as President from 1964-1965; active in the Peoria Medical Auxiliary (now known as the Peoria Medical Alliance), serving as president from 1971- 1972 and became an Honorary member of the Peoria Medical Alliance in May 1997. She received the Charlotte Barbour Award (PMSA) in May 1998. She was an active member and past officer in the DAR, PEO and Peoria Women's Civic Federation (Peoria Women's Club).

A faithful attendee, member and devout volunteer at First Federated Church, and also First Presbyterian Church for a time, since 1958, JoAnne was a former Chairman of the Board of Deacons and Co-Chairman of the building and Grounds Committee, founding member of the Stained-glass restoration committee and fund, as well as serving on the Executive Board. She participated in the Women's club and assisted with the children's programs.

JoAnne's personal passion was gardening, both flowers and vegetables, and often said she spent eighteen years trying to get off the farm and spent the rest of her life trying to get back on. Joanne passed on her love of gardening and cultivating habitats for birds to her grandchildren when they came to visit in the summer. Her love of cats was also well-known, and JoAnne almost always had a cat on her lap if she was sitting down.

Funeral Services will be held in the sanctuary at First Federated Church, 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 18th, 2026. Visitation will be in the living room area of the church, one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Federated Church Stained Glass Repair Fund, specifically, and the Center for Prevention of Abuse, Peoria, IL.

Arrangements entrusted to Davison Fulton Funeral Home, Peoria, Illinois.

Interment will be held privately at a separate time.