Smith Center - Joan Rathbun, 84, passed away Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS.
Joan was born September 2, 1936, in Smith County, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Elsie Mae (Webb) Robinson. On May 27, 1954, Joan married Richard Claude Rathbun, to this union they were blessed with three girls, Karen, Carolyn, and Louise.
Joan was born and raised on a farm so when she married Richard, becoming a farm wife was a natural step in her life. She loved working alongside her husband on the farm- milking cows, driving truck during harvest, raising cattle - and raising her girls. Her and Richard enjoyed spending time at the lake camping with family. Once their girls were grown, they were fond of traveling and trying their luck at casinos. Joan enjoyed playing cards and games with her family and spent many hours playing with and teaching her grandkids and great grandkids. Joan enjoyed reading, putting together puzzles, and completing word search books in her spare time. After Richard passed, she became an avid Bingo player and spent many nights a week traveling to all the local Bingo halls with her Bingo buddies. Her daily fountain Pepsi was a must that she never missed, even if she had to call a family member to bring it to her. She also enjoyed watching and feeding her birds, watching the Royals play baseball and going out to coffee with her friends. Despite her challenges with rheumatoid arthritis she didn’t let it slow her down, she enjoyed life to its fullest. Her greatest love and joy was spending time with her three girls and all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, two brothers, Raymond, and Albert "Warren" Robinson and three sisters, Reva White, Lenora Hansen, and Violet Clark.
Joan is survived by her three daughters, Karen (Russell) Baetz of Lebanon, Carolyn (Jim) Sanford and Louise (Darrell) Shellito all of Smith Center; eleven grandchildren, Debra (Jason) Maruska, Kenton (Becky) Baetz all of Smith Center, Janelle (Brett) Remus of Beloit, Patricia (Dave) Brown of Smithville, MO, Joshua (Dan) Conaway of Las Vegas, NV, Natasha (Alex) Martin of Olathe, Annastasia Mackenthaler of Maize, Nathan (Darian) Baumann, Tim, Andy and Tyler Sanford all of Smith Center; five step-grandchildren, Amber (Jeremy) Hendrich, Kecia Shellito, Kayla Murphy, Kelsey Shellito, and Ashley (Kelly) Campbell; nine great-grandchildren, Justin, Jordan, and Kaitlyn Maruska, Reis and Lynkin Martin, Caysen and Ellie Remus, Kaden and Brysen Baetz, Karter, Kimber, and Kaliber Muckenthaler; nine step-great grandchildren, Nathan, Brandon, and Mattie Hendrich, Hannah and Hunter Coop, Ruger and Wesson Jones, Eli and Easton Murphy; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A celebration of Joan's life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Les Ellis officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to SunPorch of Smith County or VFW Women's Auxiliary - BINGO Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.