Joan M. Micheli

Loving wife of John Micheli for thirty years and dear friend for thirty-five. Fond daughter of Margaret "Peggy" and the late Walter R. Ginster. Sister of Judy (Aris) McAndrews, Brian Ginster, Stephen (late Victoria) Ginster and Noelle (York) Moehlenkamp.

Cherished daughter-in-law of Virginia Micheli.

Aunt of Braden, Meara, and the late Liam Moehlenkamp. Aunt of Emily, Hannah, Patrick and Aaron Kenny, Sammer Micheli, Sadie Micheli, Pascale Micheli-Marcy, Micheli Venckus, the late Cashmir Venckus and Max, Micheli,

Dearest sister-in-law of Chris (Sarah), Daniel, Andrew (Claire), Margaret Micheli Venckus, Michael (Gina) Micheli and the late Joseph Micheli.

Joan was raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin and received her degree in English from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her work as a paralegal took her to the corporate law department at Sea Containers in London. Upon her return to the American Midwest, where she made her home in Glen Ellyn, she continued in the corporate law departments of Navistar and then at Discover Financial.

A woman of many interests, she found joy in her travels, which took her far off the beaten path: self-guiding in Tibet, hanging off dilapidated 8 person boats at sea around the Galapagos, wandering the back streets of Marrakesh or Tokyo, and soloing through the newly open grey countryside of Eastern Europe. On her return to the US she explored her backyard by tackling weeks-long backcountry canoe trips, mountain climbs, terrifying black diamond runs at her favorite Jackson Hole, and a month on the Appalachian Trail here in the US - just some of her memorable outdoor adventures. A supporter of the Morton Arboretum, she always found time for a walk with the trees.

Her true passion became running, which was brought to her by her friends at the Glen Ellyn Unstoppables Running Club. These friends supported her from novice to full-Marathoner in the Chicago, Milwaukee, Naperville and other Marathon races.

A fine knitter, a connoisseur of tea and a reader of extraordinary taste; she feasted on books and could have claimed, had she ever boasted, to have read almost every book of fiction that had won any prize, anywhere - and most of the other great works of the centuries. A maven of serious theater, Joan had taken in many hundreds of performances including some of the most historic dramatic productions of her lifetime in London, Dublin, NYC and Chicago.

A devoted guardian of her two Stabyhouns, Beckett & Thistle, Joan was active with her friends in the Stabyhoun community’s laudable efforts to rescue this exceedingly rare breed and maintain its health and genetic diversity.

She leaves behind the echo of her smile and a deep warmth that will emanate forth from those who loved her wherever her memory is brought to mind.

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