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86, of Honolulu passed away Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Straub Hospital after a brief illness. Joan was born February 22, 1933 in Gordon, Nebraska. She grew up on the family cattle ranch outside of town during the Depression. Active in chorus, pep and drama clubs Joan graduated from Gordon High School in 1949. Joan attended San Diego State College and graduated in 1953 with a BA in Business Administration. She was a sister of Delta Zeta sorority becoming its President and "The 1953 Dream Girl of The Year." Her love of fashion and clothing may have started here as she often modeled at sorority service events. During a vacation to Honolulu in the late 1950s Joan made the decision to stay. In 1959 she became Bill Saunders' legal secretary. This began Joan's lifelong career with the Saunders, their multitude of businesses and employees. Over the years she filled many roles for the Saunders business interests to include being Corporate Secretary of National Golf Courses Inc. and nearly thirty years working with Aston Hotel and Resorts and its affiliate Hotel Corporation of the Pacific. Her career with the Saunders lasted uninterrupted for sixty years. Joan loved to travel, especially with her companion George Nelson. After his death, Joan was lovingly "adopted" into the families of his children, Gregg Nelson and Sheri Krom. Watching her hanai grandchildren Nick, Kara and Chris grow up was a special joy for her. San Francisco became her second home with many friends and family members visiting her Nob Hill condo. While on the West Coast Joan enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews often sharing family holidays together. She is preceded in death by her father Jesse Trueblood Jr, mother Bonnie Lucille Cochran Trueblood, sister Betty Trueblood Englander Shepard, companion George Nelson, nephew Lawrence Englander and grandnephew Alexander Englander. She is survived by her hanai family: Gregg Nelson (Coreen) and his children Kara Nelson Paul (Daniel) and Christopher Nelson as well as Sheryl Nelson Krom and her son Nicholas Krom (Ashley); nephews Kenneth Shepard (Joan) and Daniel P. Shepard, niece-in-law Heidi Englander, grandnephews Daniel J. Shepard (Vanessa) and Micah Shepard and grandniece Jolyne Shepard (Nicholas). A private memorial was held at the Outrigger Club in Waikiki where Joan was a member for fifty two years. Her ashes will be scattered at sea off the club.
86, of Honolulu passed away Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Straub Hospital after a brief illness. Joan was born February 22, 1933 in Gordon, Nebraska. She grew up on the family cattle ranch outside of town during the Depression. Active in chorus, pep and drama clubs Joan graduated from Gordon High School in 1949. Joan attended San Diego State College and graduated in 1953 with a BA in Business Administration. She was a sister of Delta Zeta sorority becoming its President and "The 1953 Dream Girl of The Year." Her love of fashion and clothing may have started here as she often modeled at sorority service events. During a vacation to Honolulu in the late 1950s Joan made the decision to stay. In 1959 she became Bill Saunders' legal secretary. This began Joan's lifelong career with the Saunders, their multitude of businesses and employees. Over the years she filled many roles for the Saunders business interests to include being Corporate Secretary of National Golf Courses Inc. and nearly thirty years working with Aston Hotel and Resorts and its affiliate Hotel Corporation of the Pacific. Her career with the Saunders lasted uninterrupted for sixty years. Joan loved to travel, especially with her companion George Nelson. After his death, Joan was lovingly "adopted" into the families of his children, Gregg Nelson and Sheri Krom. Watching her hanai grandchildren Nick, Kara and Chris grow up was a special joy for her. San Francisco became her second home with many friends and family members visiting her Nob Hill condo. While on the West Coast Joan enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews often sharing family holidays together. She is preceded in death by her father Jesse Trueblood Jr, mother Bonnie Lucille Cochran Trueblood, sister Betty Trueblood Englander Shepard, companion George Nelson, nephew Lawrence Englander and grandnephew Alexander Englander. She is survived by her hanai family: Gregg Nelson (Coreen) and his children Kara Nelson Paul (Daniel) and Christopher Nelson as well as Sheryl Nelson Krom and her son Nicholas Krom (Ashley); nephews Kenneth Shepard (Joan) and Daniel P. Shepard, niece-in-law Heidi Englander, grandnephews Daniel J. Shepard (Vanessa) and Micah Shepard and grandniece Jolyne Shepard (Nicholas). A private memorial was held at the Outrigger Club in Waikiki where Joan was a member for fifty two years. Her ashes will be scattered at sea off the club.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
