Joan Frances Brubaker

Joan Frances (Schreck) Brubaker, 81, of Eldora, IA, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 18, 2023.  A visitation will be held Friday, May 19, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in rural Reinbeck.   A funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., also at St. Gabriel Catholic Church.  Memorials will be directed to the family.

Joan was born September 8, 1941, to Lester & Ursula (Mullin) Schreck.  She graduated from Dike High School in 1960, and went on to the University of Iowa to become an X-ray Technician. 

In 1957, she met the love of her life, Billy Brubaker, and they were married in 1962 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center, IA.  Billy and Joan were blessed with 4 children, Wanda, Marilyn, Mary Jane, and Susan. 

Joan worked from 1962-1966 as an X-ray Tech in the Story County Hospital and worked in the medical field throughout the rest of her career.   She opened her own candle and ceramic shop in her home, was a bookkeeper, and a stay-at-home mom as well. 

Joan & Billy lived in Nevada, Reinbeck, Melrose, New Sharon, and Eldora, IA, where they have been for the last 2 years. 

Joan enjoyed traveling, motorcycle rides, genealogy, bird watching, collecting marbles, rocks and thimbles.   She had a great passion for collecting hats, and loved wearing them wherever she went.    She helped found the Green Hat Society in Melrose, IA.  Her faith was very important to her.   She was a member of the Catholic Church in every town that she had lived in, and had traveled to Medjugorje on a group trip in 2001.  She also enjoyed making rosary beads and jewelry.  She especially loved spending time with her children, her grandchildren, and their families. 

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.   Joan is survived by her husband, Billy, with nearly 61 years of marriage, her 4 children, Wanda (Mike) Christensen of Dike, Marilyn (Ross) Wendell of Ankeny, Mary Jane (Ryan) Sharp of Norwalk, and Susan Brubaker of Grundy Center.  She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren, Seth (Bethany) Christensen, Jared (Emily) Christensen, Jacob Wendell, Reece Sharp, Erin (Jack) Leshen, Bailey Sharp, Cody (Dalia) Monaghan, Tayvian, Chloye & Tessya Prime, and 2 great grandchildren, Adrian & Clarke Christensen, and Baby Leshen on the way, as well as her siblings, Paul Schreck, John Schreck, & Jane Rhoads.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lester & Ursula Schreck, her in-laws, Harold & Ruth Brubaker, her grandson, Austin Monaghan, her sisters-in-law, LuAnn Schreck & Mary Jo Schreck, her brothers-in-law, Randy Rhoads, Curtis Brubaker, and Robert Clark.