Joan Marie Hallmark

Joan Marie Hallmark was born to her parents, H.K. Bluntzer and Maurine Sinast Bluntzer, in Cuero, Texas on October 19, 1935. She lived her childhood years in Cuero and Yorktown, Texas where her grandparents and other relatives lived and spoke often of the years her mother and her lived with her grandparents during World War II while her Army father fought in several famous battles during his four year absence.

Joan was a very proud “Army Brat” and was known to tell many stories of her father, Lt Col Bluntzer’s experiences in Europe, North Africa, and later Pakistan. Growing up as a military dependent, Joan and her parents lived in Tennessee, California, and even in Anchorage, Alaska during her early teen years. Her children recall their Mother’s many stories of her life experiences in these different places and how they created a love of life and a deep spiritual belief in God.

By 1953, Joan and her parents were stationed in Fort Hood, Texas where her father served and Joan began her high school years first as a freshman at Temple High School and then when they moved to Killeen, she became a Killeen Kangaroo. Joan developed lasting friendships during her years at Killeen High School and enjoyed being a cheerleader for the “Fighting Kangaroos” and an avid basketball player. She graduated in 1954 and married her high school sweetheart, James Reding, one of the football team’s high profile running backs.

Soon, James and Joan were raising four children. James was a devoted and highly rated postal carrier on a residential route close to home while Joan devoted her efforts on her children. She very carefully and consistently directed her children’s care of their school studies and extra-curricular activities and their spiritual development attending First Methodist Church. This involvement in the Church became an increasing anchor for Joan in the coming years of her adult life.

Volunteerism and dedication to home and family became the main focus of her life as her children grew and became successful students and left home to attend colleges, chase careers, and marry.

In the 21st year of Joan’s marriage to James, she finally accepted their troubled married life and divorced him to find peace and safety for herself and her children. It was a tremendous challenge for Joan to enter the work force but she was provided a clerk’s position first at State Farm Insurance. Later, she found another position with Woodview Federal Credit Union. This position was followed by greater and higher responsibilities in later years as Joan advanced to become a loan officer.

The challenges of her new life and her developing Christian faith guided her to try marriage again to bring greater financial stability for her two remaining children at home. Raymond McKee and Joan began a BBQ restaurant business in Salado which became successful and later a race horse business as well. Joan gave her life to providing love and care to Raymond’s five young children and was a commanding force in the success of the restaurant where all family gatherings on both sides were always filled with love and care for all involved.

Tragically, the marriage ended after 13 years and Joan was challenged again to choose a new path for her life after several years of prayer and support of her long life-long classmates and her children and other family activities and social gatherings she attended always included a particular classmate, Jamie Hallmark. Over the next few years, Joan and Jamie forged a Christian friendship that blossomed into a promise of a lasting union and in May of 1996, the two eloped and happily surprised their children.

As the story is told, Jamie’s widowed mother, Idalee Hallmark, a strong Christian Baptist, asked Joan's eldest daughter when she discovered that Idalee's only son eloped with his sweetheart Joan, she said she very much hoped Joan’s family could love and accept her dear son Jamie even though “they ran off and got married!” It was a funny story for many years.

Joan often said that her twenty-two years of married life with Jamie Hallmark were just wonderful. Travel with friends all over Texas and other states; many gatherings of the 1954 KHS classmates; many holiday gatherings of Jamie’s son and family and Joan’s children and families; and their continued commitments to their respective Churches highlighted their married life. Jamie was a devoted member to the 1st Baptist Church of Killeen and Joan continued her attendance and volunteerism in the First United Methodist Church of Killeen.

Early in their marriage, they were awarded a beautiful, but unwanted midnight black, golden-eyed cat they named Spade who very soon stole their hearts and provided much entertainment for the couple for 19 years.

Jamie was an avid outdoorsman, canoe sportsman, gardener, and artifact collector. Joan’s life richly blossomed throughout their happy and successful marriage, but unfortunately, a very sudden illness and long hospitalization ended Jamie’s life too soon in May of 2018.

Once again, Joan was faced with the challenge of widowhood much sooner than ever expected but with the support of her church family, close friends, and her children, Joan prayerfully chose to honor God and live out her life showing her faith and stepping forward each day as a great example of courage and trust in God.

Several years later, Joan’s children encouraged her to move to Garden Estates in Temple. The decision to leave her home of over 20 years and her Church and Killeen life were the most difficult challenges of all. “God is good all the time,” being one of Joan’s favorite sayings, she once again trusted Him and moved into Garden Estates with the attitude that she had developed over the course of her life: “Be strong and courageous; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

Joan lived and loved a long purposeful Christian life and will be missed by all those who knew her.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, many uncles and aunts, a daughter-in-law, Christine Reding in July of 2023, and a granddaughter, Leslie Kromer, and many cherished friends who she developed over her lifetime of 90 years. Her reunion in Heaven is amazing!

Joan is survived by her only very loved brother, William King Bluntzer and his adoring wife, Sheryl Bluntzer, four children and their spouses: Jackie and David Deorsam of Temple, Jeff Reding of Spicewood, Texas, Jason Reding and Joyce Tackett of Austin, Julie and Kevin Sisk of Spring Branch, TX; a step-son, Jamie Hallmark of Killeen and his bride-to-be, Kristina Land, also of Killeen.

4 Grandchildren: Travis Taylor and his wife, Julia of Georgetown, TX, Wade Swenson of Killeen, Jonathan Sisk and his wife Elizabeth of McKinney, TX, Alexandra Flores and her husband Jonathan of Longview, Texas.

7 Great grandchildren: Ruby Taylor, Atticus Taylor, Donovan Flores, Brady Flores, Faith Flores, Olivia Sisk and Scottie Sisk.

A visitation in Joan's honor will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026  at 10:00am with funeral services to follow at 11:00 at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel located at 506 N. 38th St. Killeen, TX, 76543.

Joan’s life was consistently supported by prayer and her family. It was her wish and advice to all in attendance to continue to support your personal church homes, pray fervently for your families, our great military forces at home and overseas, and for peace for all nations under God.