Joan Marie Pickerill was born May 1, 1935 in Fleming, Colo. to Cora and Joseph Fitzjohn.

She was adopted by her maternal grandparents Ada and Frank Schepler as a young girl after her parents early death. She had one brother, Loren, and a sister, Anna, who passed as an infant, along with numerous other cousins, aunts and uncles.

Joan married Bobby Pickerill in 1959. They soon had a family of four children they raised in Bellevue, Wash. She was very active at Pilgrim Lutheran Church as a teacher and a member.

Joan and Bob retired to beautiful Whidbey Island where they quickly fell in love with “island life” and became active in neighborhood activities in Admiral’s Cove and at Concordia Lutheran Church.

Joan is survived by her husband Bobby of 58 years, children Lori, Jeni (George Clark), Alan (Dianne), Keri (Ron) Crawford, and her brother Loren (Delma) Fitzjohn.

She doted on her 13 granddaughters who were her pride and joy. In addition to her devoted Bible study, prayer and worship of her Savior Jesus Christ, Joan enjoyed gardening, painting, quilting, crafts and traveling to visit friends and family near and far. Joan was particularly kind to everyone she met and was loved by so many. She will be dearly missed.

Celebration of life service will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor.