Joan Mae Hilbrands

George, Iowa Joan M. Hilbrands, age 77 of George, IA died Monday, January 9, 2012 at Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 14th at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at George, IA with Rev. Paul Fischer, officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George. Visitation will be Friday, January 13th from 4:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George. Joan Mae Hilbrands was born February 22, 1934 in George, IA to Andy and Carrie (Vander Werff) Smid. She was raised in George and attended the George Public School, graduating as Valedictorian of the class of 1952. She then attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating in 1954. Joan taught first grade at the Ellsworth Public School in Ellsworth, MN from 1954 " 1956. Joan was united in marriage to Marlin Jack Hilbrands on June 29, 1956 at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. They lived and farmed southeast of George until moving into town in 1999. Joan was a member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. Joan enjoyed bowling, square dancing, playing cards, completing puzzles, and clipping recipes and jokes out of the paper for family members. Joan was a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls, SD since September 2009. Joan is survived by her children, Johna (Merle) Sohl of Corwith, IA; Maureen (Joe Turman) Schmidt of Harrah, OK; Holly (Mark) Grubb of Ellsworth, IA; Michael Hilbrands of George, IA; Peggy (Daniel) Ranfeld of Castle Rock, CO; and Eric (Rosemary) Hilbrands of Fairmont, MN; and 12 grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) Dobel, Wayne and Brandon Sohl; Laura, Anthony, Trevor and Marla Grubb; Taylor, Jacy and Riley Hilbrands; and Bennett and Eleanor Hilbrands. Joan is also survived by her siblings, Shirley Coyer of Minnetonka, MN; Georgia (Donald) Hendricks of Park Rapids, MN; and Robert (Mary) Smid of Spokane, WA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marlin in July 2011; parents Andy and Carrie Smid; sisters Claretta in infancy and Clarice Nickle in 1988; and brother-in-law Burton Coyer in 1989.