October 31, 1936 – January 12, 2026
Joan Rose Christophel, was born on October 31, 1936 in Spencer, Iowa; to Clarence and Elinore (Nitchals) Thomas. She passed away on January 12, 2026 at the Alcester Care Center in Alcester, South Dakota at the age of 89.
Joan graduated from Gruver High School in 1954 and then attended one year of college at Estherville Junior College. On April 14, 1956 she was united in marriage to (Eugene) Wayne Christohel in Langdon, Iowa. Joan worked for various cafés in the area before Joan and Wayne opened a café and gas station in Gruver. The couple also dispersed the Des Moines Register to various drop spots on Sundays for 34 and a half years. Joan retired from Berkley’s in 2004 after 30 years of employment there.
Joan was a member of the United Methodist Church in Estherville where she was a Sunday School Teacher for many years. She will be remembered by her family as a hard-worker, working long hours at work and then coming home to take care of her household. Her home was always open to family, friends, and guests. Joan had an easy-going and friendly attitude toward everyone, making friends wherever she went. Joan enjoyed traveling with Wayne to Arizona to see friends, driving to Idaho with Bryan to visit family, and trips with Nancy to Disney World, Colorado Snow Mountain Ranch, and a road trip visiting 13 National Parks in the west.
Joan is survived by her children Steven (Traci) Christophel of Estherville, Michael (Becky) Christophel of Sioux Falls, SD, Bryan (Michelle) Christophel of Kingman, AZ, and Nancy Ford of Alpharetta, GA; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Roger (Linda) Thomas and Kim (Deb) Thomas.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband Wayne in 2009; her son Bruce; granddaughter Kassondra; her brothers, Dennis, Gary and Norman Thomas; her sisters, Phyllis Thomas, Sherry Geer, and Joy Clabaugh.
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