Joan G. Gill

Joan G. Gill, age 70, of Lynden, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at her home with her beloved family by her side.  She was born, June 30, 1944 in DeKalb, IL to Roy and Clara Waltz.  Following high school, Joan attended college and earned her degree in education.  She taught two years in Aurora, Colorado before she applied for a teaching job overseas on a military base with the Department of Defense.  Her first assignment sent her to the Philippines where she travelled throughout Southeast Asia. She also taught in Japan and Germany.  While in Japan, she met and married Tom Gill, the love of her life.  They raised their three wonderful children, Laura, Julie, and Andrew in Nurnberg, Germany and travelled extensively throughout Europe.  They returned to the United States in 1999 and settled in Lynden.  While here, Joan became the librarian at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary and enjoyed nine wonderful years working with the students and staff until her retirement in 2010.  Joan enjoyed being in the church choir, reading, baking, playing the piano, listening to 50s, 60s music, playing cards (often cheated!!), and spending time with her family and friends. The family is extremely grateful to the cheerful and caring staff at the Peace Health Cancer Center and all her loving and caring friends who were there for her with phone calls, cards, food, and numerous trips to appointments. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Tom, in 1999.  Joan is survived by her children Laura (Steen) Groennebaek, Julie Gill, and Andrew (Carolyn) Gill, and her beautiful granddaughter, Emma. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014,  11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 205 12th Street, Lynden, WA 98264.  Memorial donations are suggested to:  Whatcom Hospice, 2901 Squalicum Pkwy, Bellingham, WA 98225, the American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/index  (Red DONATE button at the top), or the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, http://www.fredhutch.org/en.html (Green DONATE NOW in the right corner).