Joan Alice Duwell

1929 - 2025

Joan Alice Duwell (nee Pilkington), a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and child of God, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2025, at the age of 96. Joan lived a full, joyful life, and she will be remembered for her love of family, her passion for art and music, her sense of adventure, and her spirit of contentment and quiet strength.

Joan was born in West Branch, Iowa on February 17, 1929. She was the only child of Cecil and Florence Pilkington, and she grew up surrounded by older generations of family and was the apple of their eyes. Joan graduated as the salutatorian from West Branch High School and attended the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota, graduating with degrees in education and music.

While attending the University of Iowa, Joan met Ernest Duwell in French class, and on June 10, 1950, Ernie became her husband. They started a family soon after and had four children, whom they raised in St. Paul before moving to their forever home of Hudson, WI. Over the years, Joan had several jobs--she was an elementary school teacher, a voice and piano teacher, a church choir director, and a technical writer. An individual with many talents, Joan also enjoyed sports like tennis, golf, and fishing, and she was an expert in the art of caning chairs.

Joan was a skilled artist, and she enjoyed capturing the world's beauty by painting. Many family members are lucky enough to have her works hung prominently in their homes.

Joan was an adventurer, and she and Ernie traveled the world together. Together, they visited Portugal, Germany and Austria, hiked in many national parks, snorkeled in Hawaii, and vacationed for a week every summer with their extended family, usually at YMCA camps across the United States. The world was Joan's canvas, and she often sketched and painted during her travels.

Though Ernie passed away in 2009, they were true partners, and he surely met her with open arms at the gates of Heaven one day after what would have been their 75th wedding anniversary.

Joan lives on in the memories of her four children, Rebecca (George) Spilich, John (Lynn) Duwell, Sarah Duwell, and Eric (Janell) Duwell, as well as her eleven grandchildren George (Michelle), Matthew (Tara), Lindsay (Ryan), Joanne (Patrick), Megan (Paul), Katelyn (Peter), Andrew (Brittany), Erin, Ethan (Claire), Michael, and Elise (Justin) and 20 great-grandchildren Maya, Ella, Madeline, Sophie, Isla, Henry, John, Rosemary, Theodore, Lucy, Wallace, Harper, Samuel, Colton, Jackson, Callie, Judah, Emelia, Oliver, and Aidan.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:30am at O'Connell Funeral Home-Hudson, 520 11th Street South, Hudson, WI. A time of visitation will be held from 10:00am. till the beginning of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Ernest and Joan Duwell Hudson YMCA Endowment Fund.


Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home
402 Waugoo Ave.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 231-1510