Joan E. Bleuer

Joan E. Bleuer, 71, of Rock Island, died Tuesday, December 7, 2004, in her home. Services celebrating her life are 11 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan, with The Reverend Paul Pett officiating. Burial is in National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal. Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Coal Valley, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the church's building fund. The former Joan Evelyn Sievers was born March 17, 1933, in Moline, the daughter of John and Madeline (Nightingale) Sievers. She married Gene K. Bleuer on April 28, 1972, in Milan. She was employed by John Deere for 25 years, retiring in 1985 as supervisor at the John Deere Parts Distribution Center. She previously worked at the company's Harvester Works and Spreader Works. Joan was an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan, where she sang in the choir for over 30 years, taught Sunday school, and belonged to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Chapter #1922, John Deere Retirees, and IH Farmall Retirees. She enjoyed painting, playing the keyboard and piano, singing, cooking, and doing needlework. She spent her 71 years of life loving her family and friends. Joan is survived by her husband, Gene; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Debra Anderson of Southlake, Texas; a daughter, Dr. Susan Anderson of Eagle River, Alaska; a step-daughter, Nancy E. Bleuer of Moline; four grandchildren, Katie and Jackie Rhodes and Sara and John Anderson; a great-grandson, Ethan Anderson; her mother, Madeline Sievers, and her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and John Miles, all of Milan. She was preceded in death by her father.