Joan Marie Mulligan

Joan Marie Mulligan, 92 years old, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died peacefully in the presence of loving family members on December 1, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, retired United States Air Force Colonel Patrick Mulligan (DDS) and her son Michael Mulligan.

She was born Joan Marie Sernett in Hampton, Iowa on October 14, 1932, the third and youngest child of Leo and Mayme Sernett. Her mother Mayme (Sedlasky) died of breast cancer when Joan was six months old. After being cared for by Grandma Sernett and living with her beloved Aunt Abbie (Sernett) and Uncle Jerry Hotovec, Joan (Jo) lived with her older sister Virginia (Sernett) and husband Charles Hinken. Jo graduated from Algona High School, Algona, Iowa in 1950. She received her teaching certificate from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1953), worked as a first-grade teacher in Eagle Grove, Iowa until 1954, and then returned to University of Northern Iowa, obtaining her BA in elementary education with an emphasis on primary grades (1956). While working as a first-grade teacher in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (1956-7), she met Patrick John Mulligan, DDS of Bancroft, Iowa, then a US Navy Lieutenant and dentist. They married on June 22, 1957, in Algona, Iowa, and travelled to US Marine Base Camp Pendleton, California. Joan taught second grade at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente, California (1957-58).

The Mulligans returned to Algona, Iowa in 1958 where Jo’s husband established a private practice in general dentistry and their first son, Mark Mulligan, was born. The young family moved to District Heights, Virginia in 1960 when Patrick joined the US Air Force and was assigned to Andrews Air Force Base (now Joint Base Andrews). Joan had her second and third children there, Michael and Molly. In 1963, the family was transferred to Iraklion Air Force Base on the island of Crete in Greece. As was typical of military families, Jo and her family moved 14 times. After Jo’s children completed high school and went off to college, she became very involved in tutoring and volunteer work at school, church, Officers’ Wives Club and community. After her husband’s retirement from the US Air Force, Jo and Pat returned to Colorado Springs, CO (1989). The mountains had captured their hearts during their US Air Force Academy assignment (1969-70). Joan enjoyed a vigorous Colorado extended family life with husband, children and grandchildren. She loved being mother to her three children, grandmother to her seven grandchildren, and great-grandmother to her five great-grandchildren. Her husband passed in 2011.

Joan was a woman of deep faith. A lifelong natural teacher, Nana instilled in her children and grandchildren a joy of learning and curiosity, awe of the natural world, sense of adventure, and love of family. Joan loved to hike, bike, ski, travel, read, and spend time with her family. She loved cheering for the U. of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. Always, her greatest wish was to create a loving family.

In addition to her husband, Patrick, and her son, Michael, she was preceded in death by her sister, Virginia, and brother-in-law, Charles Hinken; and her brother Marvin and sister-in-law Mickey Sernett. Joan is survived by her children: Mark and his wife Susan; her daughter-in-law Nancy, Michael’s widow; and her daughter Molly and her husband Keith Buckmiller; her grandchildren, Rachel, Patrick, Mackenzie, Maria, Ford, Brennan, and Merlin; and her great-grandchildren Elliot, Sylvia, McKenzie, Mark and Maisey.

The family wishes to thank The Inn at Garden Plaza and the medical teams at Memorial Hospital and Pikes Peak Hospice. A funeral mass will be held for Joan at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10am MST. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a favorite local church or nature conservation organization.