Joan Welch Miller

Joan Welch Miller, 89, of Grinnell and formerly of Tama, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026 at Windsor Manor in Grinnell under the care of Suncrest Hospice. A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, February 13, 2026 from 12:00-2:00 PM at the Tama Community Church, 900 E. 5th St., in Tama.

Joan Welch was born April 3, 1936, in England, to parents Alfred Henry Welch and Auriol May (Downs) Welch, a house wife and local bricker. Joan had two brothers, Reg and Stan, and one sister, Margaret. The family resided in Chackmore, a small village in England. Joan would recount memories as a little girl, gathering twigs and sticks in her baby buggy, for the cottage furnace. She said it made her feel good to contribute, even at a young age. As a young adult, Joan worked as a bookkeeper for a small store, and as a nanny. She enjoyed swimming, riding her bike, and attending dances with friends.

In 1958, Joan met Richard Miller. He was stationed at an Air Force Base in England. Richard had brought his car with him from the states, which allowed him to travel the distance to court Joan. They married on April 11, 1959. Shortly after, they made their home in the United States. Joan was a military wife and mother to four daughters, Joanne, Debbie, Susan, and Sharon. Throughout the years, the family lived in Tampa, FL (MacDill AFB) Las Vegas, NV (Nellis AFB), Prairie City, Iowa, where Joan and daughters resided closer to family while Richard served in Vietnam, and Rapid City, South Dakota (Ellsworth AFB), Eventually Joan and Richard settled in Tama, Iowa.

Joan had many interests, skills, and hobbies. She was a natural at figuring out how to conquer challenges. She made clothing for the family for several years. She quilted, gardened, and preserved food to provide meals for the winter. She and Richard were constant companions, hunting, remodeling, attending auctions, and refinishing and refurbishing antique furniture and clocks. Joan kept many miscellaneous pieces of antique parts and created new pieces of furniture. Joan enjoyed traveling. In addition to living in several states, she explored other parts of the United States. She was fortunate to visit family in England and Australia. She was baptized in the Jordan River during a trip to Israel. She went on the Footsteps of Paul Tour in Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Joan served several rolls at the Tama Assembly of God Church and Meskwaki Celebration Assembly of God Church, including janitorial, teaching Sunday School, acting as treasurer, being a part of the Lady's Ministry, acting as a board member, and helping administer Celebrate Recovery.

Joan began experiencing symptoms of Dementia around 2022. It wasn't something that was recognized at the time and was diagnosed in 2023. At that time, she moved from Tama to be with family. In 2024, she became a resident of Windsor Manor in Grinnell, where she received the best of care. She would often say there was no better place to live. Family breathed easily knowing she was in capable, caring hands.

Whoever knew Joan would tell you that she was a woman of quiet strength, who loved Jesus. She told stories of her kind and caring Sunday School teachers when she was very young, and the impact they made on her Faith and love of God. Her Faith never wavered. She remained a calm, gentle, caring, strong woman without complaints, throughout her life. She continued fellowship with Bible Study at Windsor Manor when traveling to church became difficult.

Sadly, on January 28, 2026, Joan suffered a debilitating stroke. After hospitalization, she returned to Windsor Manor just in time to be surrounded by the caring staff, and had a final visit from her resident neighbor, Betty, who loved her dearly. Family was beside Joan talking to her, singing to her, and praying with her during her final days and hours. She went home to be in the loving arms of her Lord, on Friday, February 6, 2026. Family can attest that God was the guiding hand helping to make the best decisions during her final days. We will miss her dearly, and find Peace with thoughts of her dancing in Heaven with Richard and Joanne, and all who passed before her.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; her husband, Richard; her daughter, Joanne; several friends; and all of her generation of family. She is survived by her children, Debbie (Rick) Miller, Susan (Danny) Lassiter, and Sharon Miller; son-in-law, Ed Philbin; step-daughters, Wanda (Tom) Jones, and Sue (Ed) Herrera; grandchildren, Richard, Jeni, Jesse, Kabe, Garrett, Jacob, Casady, Greg, and Travis; great grandchildren, Daimon, Ashlynn, Sierra, Nevaya, Griffin, Vivian, Willow, William, Georgiana, Ripley, Bubs, Renna, Gracelynn, Karson, and one brand new great great-grandchild, Azalea.

Memorials may be directed to the Tama Community Church.