Joan Marie Lightner

Joan Marie Lightner

Cedar Rapids

Joan Marie Lightner, age 91, of Marionville, Missouri, passed away at 6:20 p.m. on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. Joan was born March 14, 1932, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Clinton and Bernice (Williams) Richey.

Joan was a 1950 graduate of West Liberty High School in West Liberty, Iowa.

On April 9, 1950, she married Robert Earl “Bob” Lightner, in Iowa City, Iowa. Bob preceded her in death on January 8, 2017.

Joan was a homemaker early in her marriage, bringing five incredible people into the world. Joan taught her children humility, forgiveness, tolerance, thinking of others and putting others first, and to not

talk badly about anyone. She taught them about good nutrition and how to manage stress by exercising and moving their bodies. She modeled not just being content but joyful in life’s circumstances. She didn’t complain regardless of what life brought her. She respected each of her children’s individual paths and opened her heart and arms to the people they loved.

After the youngest children were in junior high, Joan worked at K-Mart, in a dentist’s office, and then later she and Bob, together, ran two businesses, KIS Photo and a thriving Shaklee business. She enjoyed cooking and became a voice of wisdom and knowledge in the Health and Wellness field. She knew how to stretch a dollar. She sewed and embroidered. She loved to read and play Mexican Train with family and friends.

She enjoyed family vacations and camping trips. After she and Bob retired, they liked to travel and she especially enjoyed visiting San Francisco, Glacier National Park, and Niagara Falls, more important to her as she grew older. She was greatly blessed by the genuine love and care given by the exceptional staff of the Methodist Manor and by the friendships she developed while living there. She was still leading the Manor’s chair yoga class when she was in her nineties.

Joan is survived by her five children, Deborah Nikah and husband, Asgar, of Murchison, Texas, Mitchell Lightner and wife, Jan, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Amy Grau of Phoenix, Arizona, Jeffery Lightner and wife, Rhiza, of Overland Park, Kansas, and Brook Lightner and wife, Janet, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one brother, Duane Richey and wife, Margaret, of Des Moines, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Clinton, and Bernice; one brother, Clint Richey and one great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held on March 15th, 2:00 PM at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of Williams Funeral Home in Marionville.

Online condolences may be shared at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeMo.com.