Joan F. Sullivan

Joan F. Sullivan, 87, of Maquoketa, IA, formerly of Spragueville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Jackson Ridge Healthcare Center, in Maquoketa.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Preston. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Preston.

Joan was born on December 4, 1938 to Ferdinand and Mary (Gerlich) Ross. Joan grew up in Bellevue and graduated from St. Joseph High School (Bellevue) with the class of 1956. It was there in her hometown where she met her husband, Lester. The young couple was married on January 25, 1958, and celebrated 51 years of marriage, before his passing.

They started their family in Spragueville together, and later moved to Preston, where Joan was a homemaker. One day while Lester was at work, Joan bought a tavern back in Spragueville. Sullivan’s Tap and Café was born, and they operated that tavern and restaurant for 32 years. Joan was known for her delicious salads and deviled eggs, and she was always thought of as a second mother to the young men who came in for their daily meals.

After their retirement, Joan and Lester moved to Maquoketa, where she spent the rest of her days. Her favorite pastime was playing KMAQ Radio BINGO; never missing a day! She also enjoyed Vendor Bingo and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, bingo at Jackson Ridge was her favorite activity. She loved visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and treasured the crafts they made for her.

Joan will be dearly missed by her four daughters, Brenda (Virgil) Schroeder, of DeWitt, IA, Joyce (Gary) Culver, of Eldridge, IA, Debra (Todd) Simmons, of Spragueville, IA, Fay (Bob) Link, of Dallas Center, IA; daughter-in-law, Annette Sullivan, of Delmar, IA; grandchildren, Troy, Shannon, Bobbi Jo, Robyn, Ben, Haley, Leslie, Kyle, Lance, Chelsea, Derika and Brogan; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother, Richard (Betty) Ross, of Abingdon, IL; two sisters, Nancy (Aaron) Smith, of Camanche, IA and Alice (Edward) Feller, of Preston, IA; sisters-in-law, Bev Sullivan, of Bellevue, IA, Norine Haxmeier, of Dubuque, IA, LaVonne (Dale) Lehmkuhl, of Camanche, IA, and Karen (Bob) Skoff, of Charlotte, IA.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Lester; sons, Gary and Duane; granddaughter, Lynn Lubben; parents, Ferdinand and Mary Ross; sister, Shirley Ross; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vincent and Rosella Sullivan; sisters-in-law, Joann Messerich and Jeannie Sullivan; brothers-in-law, Bernie, Harlan and Dale Sullivan and Jack Messerich.