Joan Wilson

Joan Duncan Wilson, 67 passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 23 with her family at her side. She had courageously battled Mucosal Melanoma for 14 months. Born in Fort Wayne on June 16, 1955, she was the daughter of Ernest Duncan and Hulda (Kruse) Duncan. Joan was a 1973 graduate of Churubusco High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Business from Ball State University. She started her career at Lincoln Life, where she met her future husband, Thomas Rockefeller. Joan and Tom owned several businesses, including Coffee, Tea and Thee, Our Daily Brew, and Dial A Check payroll service. A few years after Tom's death, Joan married Randy Wilson, and they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on July 10th of 2022. Joan and Randy owned J&R Sales and Hoosier Wire Source. She also worked part time at Sheets and Childs Funeral Home as a bookkeeper. Joan and Randy were avid tennis players, and made many lifelong friends over their 25 years as members of Wildwood Racquet Club. Joan was well known around the club for her infamous "Wilsonator" smash overhead. She also enjoyed her flowers, gardening and loved to watch birds that she coaxed with a wide variety of feeders. Willie Nelson once famously said about Emmylou Harris that there were two kinds of people, those that loved her, and those that hadn't met her. That applied to Joan, with her beautiful smile, sense of humor, and kind disposition. She had a large circle of friends and admirers. Joan was the anchor of her family and taught her children and husband many lessons about patience, perseverance, and compassion. She is survived by her husband, Randy Wilson; Daughters Rachelle Wilson and Kaitlin Rockefeller; Sons Cameron Rockefeller and Luke Wilson; and Granddaughter Karma Mae Rockefeller. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Hulda Duncan; husband Thomas Rockefeller; brother Dale Duncan and his wife Dee Duncan; and sister Joyce Roberson. Visitation and a Celebration of Life will take place at the Churubusco United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Visitation runs from 1:30 pm until 4:45 pm. The Celebration of Life will start at 5:00 pm and will be followed by a meal at the Church. In lieu of Flowers, please consider donating to her preferred memorials, Churubusco Community Child Care Center, or Churubusco United Methodist Church Nursery School.