Joan Olds

Joan “Jo” P. Olds, 81, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away on Oct. 7, 2012 at the River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford, IL.

Visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral, Bettendorf, IA with the memorial service to follow.  The final resting place will be at Davenport Memorial Park.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House in Rock Island.

The former Joan Graffitt was born in Ames, IA, Jan. 29, 1931, the daughter of Jack and Ann Graffitt.  She married Donald Olds on Sept. 4, 1954, in Ottumwa.  Joan attended the University of Northern Iowa.

Joan and Don settled in the Quad Cities where Jo worked at Deere and Company, later as Jewelry Manager at Ardans for several years, and retired from Samuels Jewelry Store in 1991.

Jo loved having fun with friends and family!  She was very active after retirement enjoying bike riding, her Mah Jongg group, visiting and traveling with her son, being Grammy Jo to her granddaughter, and trying out new recipes.  She held several part-time jobs, including her favorite—working as a tour guide at the Deere-Wiman House.

Jo was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and past member of Jaycettes, Jr. Women’s Club, St. Luke’s Auxiliary, Jr. Board of Visiting Nurses Association, and PEO, Chapter IB.  She volunteered at the John Deere Classic and with the Symphony in Bloom.

She was preceded in death by her husband, infant son Todd, and her sister Barbara Young.  Survivors include her son Jeffery (Sharon) of Roscoe, IL, granddaughter Lauren of Rockford, IL, and Betsy and Scott Helmich and their children, of whom she thought of as family.