Joan Z. Van Walleghem

Joan Van Walleghem, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away after a brief illness on February 12, 2018.

Joan was born October 28, 1931 to Carl and Audrey (Ketchum) Zimmer in Houston, Texas.  She married Vic Van Walleghem November 15, 1952 at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas and moved to Shawnee, Kansas in 1954.  Joan is survived by her husband Victor; sister Kate Abbott of Limerick, Pennsylvania, and brother Mark Zimmer of Miami, Florida.  She was pre-deceased by her brother, Carl Zimmer; son, Jules Van Walleghem; and daughter, Kathy Morton.  Her surviving children and their spouses are:  Joe Van Walleghem (Robin) of Shawnee, Kansas; Mike Van Walleghem (Mary Jo) Overland Park; Carl Van Walleghem (Dena) Lenexa; Marie Henkel (Doug) Olathe; Lucia Jones (Richard) Lenexa; and Julia Bellemere (Matt) Lawrence.   Joan also has 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren (and one on the way.)

Joan was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee.  She was active in numerous parish groups and was a longtime community services volunteer in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, where she volunteered at the Franklin Community Center and as a "Compeer" for persons with mental health issues.  She was involved in the FCE, and until her health declined, she was an avid bicyclist, hiker and traveler.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Santa Marta Health Plaza in Olathe and Catholic Community Hospice for their compassionate care at the end of Joan's life.

Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 AM at the St. Joseph Catholic Church where a rosary will be prayed at 9:45 AM on Saturday, Febuary 17, 2018.  Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 AM.  Due to construction, services will be held at the old St. Joseph High School Gym at 11525 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Community Hospice.