Joan Ruth Whalen

Joan Ruth Whalen (Kautzman), 91, of Overland Park, KS passed away March 10, 2021.
Joan "GG" Whalen was born on January 2, 1930 in Grand Rapids, MI. to Evelyn (Eckert) Kautzman Oberhofer and Howard A. Kautzman. Later her family moved to Chicago where she graduated Sullivan High School and went to work for A.C. Nielsen. She met her beloved William Roach Whalen at a Christmas Eve party held by mutual friends. William and Joan were married in Chicago on April 29, 1950. In the following years she gave birth to and raised seven children with immense love and patience. In 1964 she moved with her husband and family to Overland Park, KS.

Joan is not only the beloved mother of seven, but a grandmother of 15, great grandmother of 13 and great-great grandmother of 4 (with a 5th on the way). Her quiet sense of humor often burst forth with silliness as she eagerly joined in the antics of the many children she was always surrounded by.
After her children were grown, Joan started a successful home daycare business. She used her deep patience, love and compassion to help raise and nurture many other children over the years.

Joan had a real skill for crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, bingo and word search. She was always the first to gather the family around the dining room table for laughter-filled board and card games. She enjoyed mini chocolate bars, Coca-Cola and Lifesaver Wint-O-Green mints.
She showed amazing love to all she met. Joan was a kind and gentle person who always quietly gave of herself, showed unlimited compassion and helped others grow.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; son Michael Robert Whalen; daughter Mary Christine (Lawson) (Steinhilber); daughter-in-law Bonnie; brother Robert Oberhofer; sister Marilyn "Mickey" F. Ingalls.

Joan is survived by her children Karen J. Whalen-Marx, William "Bill" R. Whalen II, Christopher "Chris" Q. Whalen, Deborah (Hughes) Mark J. (Donna); and brother Mike (E.E.) Oberhofer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Leawood, KS. Joan will be laid to rest next to her husband William at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, KS. If you would like to watch a livestream of Joan’s Mass please click here.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that in Joan's honor, call or tell those you care about, that you love them.