Joan Fairchild, 85, passed away Sunday April 5, 2020 at Grandview Health Care Center in Oelwein.
Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic the family will not be having a public memorial at this time. Private graveside services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein.
Joan Mary Werdel was born May 29, 1934 at Oelwein, Iowa the daughter of Albert and Eva (Sinram) Werdel. She graduated in 1952 from Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Oelwein. Joan married Wallace Fairchild on May 29, 1954 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Joan was a lifelong resident of Oelwein and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Primarily a homemaker, she was also employed as a sales associate for Connor's Department store for many years.
Joan is survived by her daughter Susan Ricchio (Mark Bahr) of West Union, Iowa; her grandchildren: Andrew (Rachel) Jensen of Napa, California, Elizabeth (Cory) Faist of Early, Iowa, Christopher (Deanna) Jensen of Oelwein; her great-grandchildren: Landon, Hunter, Alex, Vivienne, Grant and Lucas; her sister Marlene (Enoch) Fratzke; her sister-in-law Alberta Werdel; and her ten nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wallace in 2017, an infant daughter Kathleen and her brother Charles in 2011.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Oelwein Public Library or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
