Funeral Home and On- Site Crematory Location:
2659 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque
IA
52002
 Phone: 563-556-0776
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Obituary for Joan Higley (Curits)
Joan Kathryn Curtis Higley 93, of Dubuque, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Monday, February 9, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Grace Point Church. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Joan was born on September 4, 1921 in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Amelia (Grassel) Curtis. She graduated from Dubuque Senior High School and received her BA from the University of Dubuque. Joan taught physics and math at the University of Dubuque and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She then taught at Jefferson Junior High School and Sunday school at the Third Presbyterian Church. On December 30, 1950, Joan married Howard F. Higley Junior. Joan celebrated life with a sense of adventure and had a strong connection to nature. She was an avid bird watcher and lover of dachshunds. She enjoyed camping, hiking, and traveling the world. She was a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She studied in various elder hostels in Europe and spent many years wintering in Mission Texas.
Joan was past president of Gamma Phi Delta (U.D.) chapter, I.P.P.E.O., the Dubuque Audubon Society, The Friends of Mines of Spain, The Iowa Mountaineers, Grace Point Church (formerly 3rd Presbyterian Church), and the Mississippi Trails Club where she had a lifetime hike total of 1634 hikes. She was awarded the Governors Volunteer Award for various conservation projects.
Surviving are her husband of 64 beautiful years, Howard F. Higley Jr. of Dubuque; her children Howard Roy (Louise Katz) Higley of Mountain View, CA, Mary Jo (Barry) Shear of Highland Park, IL, and Jan Higley Zivojnovich of Dubuque; her grandchildren, Sara and Nathaniel Higley, Matthew, Johanna, Gailan and Alexander Shear; and Adam, Daniel, Thomas and Grant Zivojnovich; her sisters, Jane Liebold and Jean Jaeggi.
She was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Amelia, siblings Janet (William) Marshall, Judy (George) Meyer, Joyce (Robert) Wollschlager, Albert (Bernie) Curtis, brothers in law Joe Liebold and Robert Jaeggi, and granddaughter Jillian Zivojnovich.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque, Friends of the Mines of Spain, Children's Haven International or Grace Point Church.
Online condolences may be sent to www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
The Higley family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque for their wonderful care and guidance. A special thanks to Elizabeth, Nicole and Janice and to "no place like home" Diane, Wendy and Pam.
The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Road is in charge of arrangements.
Joan was born on September 4, 1921 in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Amelia (Grassel) Curtis. She graduated from Dubuque Senior High School and received her BA from the University of Dubuque. Joan taught physics and math at the University of Dubuque and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She then taught at Jefferson Junior High School and Sunday school at the Third Presbyterian Church. On December 30, 1950, Joan married Howard F. Higley Junior. Joan celebrated life with a sense of adventure and had a strong connection to nature. She was an avid bird watcher and lover of dachshunds. She enjoyed camping, hiking, and traveling the world. She was a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She studied in various elder hostels in Europe and spent many years wintering in Mission Texas.
Joan was past president of Gamma Phi Delta (U.D.) chapter, I.P.P.E.O., the Dubuque Audubon Society, The Friends of Mines of Spain, The Iowa Mountaineers, Grace Point Church (formerly 3rd Presbyterian Church), and the Mississippi Trails Club where she had a lifetime hike total of 1634 hikes. She was awarded the Governors Volunteer Award for various conservation projects.
Surviving are her husband of 64 beautiful years, Howard F. Higley Jr. of Dubuque; her children Howard Roy (Louise Katz) Higley of Mountain View, CA, Mary Jo (Barry) Shear of Highland Park, IL, and Jan Higley Zivojnovich of Dubuque; her grandchildren, Sara and Nathaniel Higley, Matthew, Johanna, Gailan and Alexander Shear; and Adam, Daniel, Thomas and Grant Zivojnovich; her sisters, Jane Liebold and Jean Jaeggi.
She was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Amelia, siblings Janet (William) Marshall, Judy (George) Meyer, Joyce (Robert) Wollschlager, Albert (Bernie) Curtis, brothers in law Joe Liebold and Robert Jaeggi, and granddaughter Jillian Zivojnovich.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque, Friends of the Mines of Spain, Children's Haven International or Grace Point Church.
Online condolences may be sent to www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
The Higley family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque for their wonderful care and guidance. A special thanks to Elizabeth, Nicole and Janice and to "no place like home" Diane, Wendy and Pam.
The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Road is in charge of arrangements.
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