Joan Elizabeth Ronk
February 11, 1927 — July 4, 2016
Joan Elizabeth Hewett Ronk passed peacefully on July 4, 2016 after living with dementia for many years. She was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on February 11, 1927 to Bertrand Lauren and Mildred Kinney Hewett. During her childhood, her family moved to East Lansing, Michigan. Joan loved golf, horseback riding, summers at Glen Lake, weekends at the Jacksonville Beaches and, above all, the joy of music, with boogie-woogie being her favorite. She had a tremendous love of dogs. She was an accomplished pianist and was always willing to entertain family and friends at any time. Her home was always open to friends, including her children's friends. She was a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother and lived for her family. She was never happier than when she was taking care of babies.
Joan attended Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee and Michigan State University. On September 15, 1948, Joan married Irving Henry (Hank) Ronk, Jr. They enjoyed a 52 year marriage while living most of it in Jacksonville, Florida.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, her parents and one brother. She is survived by her brother, John Hewett, her children, Debbie and David Messer, Barbara and Darrell Bateman, Howie Ronk, Libby Turner and Nancy and Dave Boden; grandchildren, Chris Messer, Kimberly and Darren Ross, Kelly and Tim Cullen, Keri and Blaine Peterson, Jennifer Sheehan, Richard Ronk, Samantha Ronk, Ryan and Crystal Turner, Lindsey Turner, and Andrew Boden; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Victoria and Annabelle Ross, Stella and Cullen Peterson, Aidan Turner and Ariella Brooks, and many nieces and nephews.
Mom gave much love and was much loved in return. She will be greatly missed. It is a great comfort to her family that she is now free of the dementia that plagued her for too many years.
The family will have a private memorial at a later date with the cremains to be interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. The family asks that any memorials be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society or the Central and North Florida chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Gratitude is also extended by the family to the staffs of Ashford Court and Vitas Hospice for their loving care of our mother. Arrangements by Naugle Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1203 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL (904) 396-1611
Joan attended Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee and Michigan State University. On September 15, 1948, Joan married Irving Henry (Hank) Ronk, Jr. They enjoyed a 52 year marriage while living most of it in Jacksonville, Florida.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, her parents and one brother. She is survived by her brother, John Hewett, her children, Debbie and David Messer, Barbara and Darrell Bateman, Howie Ronk, Libby Turner and Nancy and Dave Boden; grandchildren, Chris Messer, Kimberly and Darren Ross, Kelly and Tim Cullen, Keri and Blaine Peterson, Jennifer Sheehan, Richard Ronk, Samantha Ronk, Ryan and Crystal Turner, Lindsey Turner, and Andrew Boden; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Victoria and Annabelle Ross, Stella and Cullen Peterson, Aidan Turner and Ariella Brooks, and many nieces and nephews.
Mom gave much love and was much loved in return. She will be greatly missed. It is a great comfort to her family that she is now free of the dementia that plagued her for too many years.
The family will have a private memorial at a later date with the cremains to be interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. The family asks that any memorials be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society or the Central and North Florida chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Gratitude is also extended by the family to the staffs of Ashford Court and Vitas Hospice for their loving care of our mother. Arrangements by Naugle Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1203 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL (904) 396-1611
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