Joan Apel Klarner

As a young woman, Joan and her sister Jean raised, rode, and showed champion quarter horses. Many of their horses originated from the famous King Ranch in Texas. In her adult years, Joan was a professional cat breeder and judge for more than 50 years, traveling around the globe enjoying this lifelong endeavor. She bred silver Persian and American Shorthair cats. She loved her cats as well as all of the many animals that her family maintained on their farm in northwest Rockford. She was very proud of all of her children and grandchildren and spent her last years most often in their company. Joan was accepted and admired for the truly unique and giving person that she was. She was loved and will be dearly missed, and remembered, by her family and friends.

Joan is loved and missed by her daughter Lori Anderson (William), daughter Lisa Knotts, and son Dana Apel (Gina); grandchildren David Lewis (Jasmine), Aimee Sills, Kassi Brooks (Jayme), Dana Apel Jr (Sarah), Jeremiah Apel (Gianna), and Cierra Lewis; and beloved nephew Rick Rokusek (Paivi). Joan also leaves nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Donald Klarner, sister Jean Latham (John), mother Berniece Kreuter and father Louis Laverne Kreuter.

The family has planned a private celebration of her life for her immediate family members. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation in her name to your local animal rescue/shelter or humane society. She would have liked that very much.