Age 73
On October 5th, 2026 Joan passed away at home in the loving care of her family with her twin sister, also a career nurse and best friend, by her side giving her the care only a twin sister can provide. Family and friends were also at home and caring for her throughout her long battle with cancer and she was deeply loved by them all.
Joan was born in Concordia, Kansas to parents, William Dale Hills and Norma Gayle Hills (Hendrix), who both preceded her in death as did her older brother, William (Bill) Hills, and younger brother, Charles (Chipper) Hills.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, David; and her two sons, Joshua Gay and wife Kate, Derek Gale and wife Cindy; and Granddaughter, Eden Hansen and husband Ethan; Older sister, Cheri Stinnett and husband Dan; twin sister, Jean Campbell and husband Larry; brother, Robert (Bob) Hills and wife Beth; and younger sister, Katherine Middleton and husband Steve. She also adores the children by marriage of Josh and Kate, Jetsea Green and Tristan Garland and many nieces and nephews.
Joan graduated from Eldorado high school in 1971. She spent her working life in the healthcare industry starting as an aide in the nursing home, Little Sisters of the Poor, in the town of Eldorado, Kansas where she grew up. She worked there with her twin sister, older sister and mom and they all went on to become registered nurses following in the footsteps of her older sister, Cheri, who graduated into nursing first and is also a retired career nurse. Joan finished her nursing education in Minnesota at Inver Hills Community College and immediately went into service at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital for her first year as a RN and then on to Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul for 23 more years on night shift until she retired at the age of 60 as a proud member of the Minnesota Nurses Association.
Joan loved to travel and toured many countries around the world but her heart was always where she could put her butt in the sand and her toes in the water and a drink in her hand at the many beaches she traveled to with David, her family and friends. She cruised the oceans throughout the Caribbean the Pacific and the Atlantic with her family and great friends, John and Connie Ransbottom, with whom she spent many hours playing cards and sitting on beaches, dining in fancy restaurants and sunning on cruise ship decks and by the pool. We all love you and will all miss you sweet Joanie! You are in our hearts forever!
A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Saturday, October 17th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights.
In lieu of flowers, please take a moment to remember Joan and how many lives she touched and how much her family and friends loved her.