M. Joan Finken, 88

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M. Joan Finken, 88, passed from this world on Nov. 14, 2020, at Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley. She entered the world as Mabel Joan Chamberlain on Mar. 7, 1932, on the home farm. Her mom told her it was the coldest day in March. Joan was the seventh and last child born to B. Ross and Mabel M. Chamberlain in Herrick, Ill. She attended Center school and had to walk 1-1/2 miles to school. She attended Herrick High School for 4 yrs. Her graduation class had 13 students. She attended 2 years of college at Eastern Illinois State College majoring in Music. Joan also attended 3 months Airline Training School in Omaha, Neb. with job placement at the hospital at Wright-Patterson AF Base Dayton, Ohio. In 1953, she worked at Camp Carson, Colo., typing pay records for military personnel being discharged from service. She was called home to cook for her dad and brothers after her mother had broken her ankle. In 1956, she worked at Letterman Army Hospital at Presidio San Francisco, Calif. transcribing medical reports and maintaining patient charts. She met her future husband Bernie Finken in July 1956. He was in the Army stationed at Presidio, Calif. He had just returned from overseas duty in (Eniwetok) Marshal Islands in the nuclear testing program. He was in the Military Police. They met on a blind date. He looked so young that she would not date him until he showed her his driver’s license to prove his age. They married Dec. 1, 1956 in Missouri Valley. Joan started working at the VA Medical Center Omaha, as a ward secretary, training all the ward secretaries, eventually was promoted to Chief Ward Administration Section. She retired with 30 years of government service in 1987. Bernie and Joan played cards with friends and both bowled. Their passion was fishing and gardening. They loved to take their grandchildren (Sean Cooksey and Nicole (Cooksey) Harrington and eventually their great grandchildren (Dalton and Kasey Spence) fishing. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they celebrated with a 3 week cruise to Australia and New Zealand during March and April 2007. Joan was an active member of Church of Christ singing in the choir. She loved to sing, dance and listen to music.

Joan and Bernie had two children Teresa Coleen (deceased) and Kimberly Kay Tresnak of Bailey, Colo.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, daughter Teresa, husband Bernie, siblings Joyce Chamberlain, Ralph Chamberlain, Maxine Isenberg, Barbara Fenton, June Kirkpatrick and Wesley Chamberlain.

She is survived by her daughter Kim (Phil) Tresnak of Bailey, Colo., 2 grandchildren Sean Cooksey Aurora, Colo. and Nicole (Brit) Harrington of Missouri Valley, 2 great-grandchildren Dalton and Kasey Spence of Missouri Valley.

The visitation  and funeral was Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, at Grace Community Fellowship Church in Missouri Valley. Pastor Brad Westercamp officiated and the music selections were “As The Deer”, “In The Garden” and “Amazing Grace”. The Casket Bearers were Brit Harrington, Sean Cooksey, Dalton Spence, Josh Harrington, Phil Tresnak, and Cody Harrington. Her final resting place is at Rose Hill Memorial Garden in Missouri Valley.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, D.C. 20090-6011