Joan Essig ROUSE

ROUSE Joan Essig, 84, died on May 18, 2012. She was born April 3, 1928 in Chicago, IL. We mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Joan Essig Rouse, loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt and friend. She will be happily reunited in heaven with her husband, Arthur B. Rouse, Jr, her brother William Essig, her father and mother Elmer William Essig and Elizabeth Lewis Essig and her brother- and sister-in-law Robert K. Rouse and Luane Rouse. Joan grew up in Lexington and attended Kenwick Elementary, Morton Middle and Henry Clay High School, graduating in the class of 1946. While at Henry Clay she was a member of Apple Pi Club and loved to go to Jakes. Joan attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans where she majored in philosophy, graduating in 1950. She was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. After graduation she returned to Lexington where she met her future husband, Arthur B. Rouse, Jr. and in 1951 they began a life together that would last 57 years until his passing in 2008. While raising three children, Arthur, Cindy and Betty, Joan was active in the Lexington Women's Club, the PTA, Meals on Wheels and Second Presbyterian Church. She played bridge with her friends in the "Sad Sacks" bridge club for 50 years. She spent many happy years traveling with her husband and visiting with family in Dayton Beach, FL. She had a bright smile, quick sense of humor and love for every child and animal. Joan is survived by three children, Arthur B. Rouse III (Mary) of Lexington, Cindy Rouse of Lexington, Betty Ann Rouse Ferree (John) of Alexandria, Virginia; five grandchildren, William Arthur Rouse, Amanda Blyth Rouse, Anne Elizabeth Rouse, Jacob Blyth Rouse Ferree, and Evan Edward Rouse Ferree; nephews and nieces, Rindy Nyberg, Robert K. Rouse, Jr, Arthur A. Rouse, Lisa Rouse, and Mike Essig, and a host of cousins, great nieces and nephews. Funeral, Thu, 11am, at Second Presbyterian Church. Private interment at Lexington Cemetery. Donations in her memory are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, Lexington Humane Society and Ashland-Home of Henry Clay. www.milwardfuneral.com