Joan Elaine Dippel

Joan Elaine Fayle Dippel passed away Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at her home in Baytown, Texas, surrounded by her family. She was 86.

Born November 14, 1939, in Baytown to Raymond Foylette Fayle and Nora Lee, Joan attended Robert E. Lee High School, where she met her sweetheart, Robert Kenneth Dippel. They married and shared 50 wonderful years together while raising their family in Texas.

Joan studied nursing at Lee College, became a registered nurse, and cared for families at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital for 25 years. Throughout those years, she and Robert enjoyed traveling, camping, and making lasting memories with their children at their vacation home at Lake Sam Rayburn.

Retirement only expanded Joan's sense of adventure, taking cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Alaska. The two especially loved time spent as "Mimi and Papa" for their grandkids, hosting sleepovers, pool days, lake trips, and packed family holiday gatherings. After Robert's passing in 2005, Joan filled her home with life, including two parrots, a Dalmatian, several toy poodles (all named Prissy), two English bulldogs, finches, turtles, and many cats and kittens.

In 2006, she married Charles Edward Forsblom of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Joan and Charlie enjoyed quiet days at home, day trips, and Caribbean cruises, finding joy in life's simple moments together.

Joan loved her family deeply, encouraging each to forge their own path with determination, grit, and a ready sense of humor. She often said she could handle anything as long as "her cheese had not slid off her cracker."

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Eugene Fayle, her husband Robert, her second husband Charlie, her infant daughter Joan, and her youngest son Jon.

She is survived by her children: Donald "Criss" Dippel (Susan), Jana Kotaska (Edward), James "Jim" Dippel (Julie), and daughter-in-law Anna Kristine Reynolds Dippel; her grandchildren: Clay Dippel, Lindsey Bransom, Ryan Dippel, Sara Roob, Amber Theisen, Quinton Kotaska, Beau Pedraza, Cole Dippel, Trey Dippel, Kari Massey, Sean Dippel, and Ronnie Dippel; along with fourteen great-grandchildren and many extended family members, their spouses, and dear friends.

The family will receive friends for a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Crespo & Jirrels Funeral Home, 6123 Garth Road, in Baytown. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. A procession will depart for a 2:00 p.m. committal service at Cedar Crest Cemetery in Baytown.

Grandsons Trey, Clay, Ryan, Cole, Sean, and Ronnie Dippel, along with Cameron Rivers and Mack Bransom, will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Beau Pedraza, Quinton Kotaska, Tyler Theisen, and Josh Roob.

The family is especially grateful to Jana and Ed for the full-time care they provided Joan as her mobility declined, and to the many family members and friends who supported her with comfort, care, and love.

Services performed by Bradshaw-Carter Memorial & Funeral Services.