Obituary: Joanne Barbara Conklin

Joanne Barbara Conklin, 83, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away on Dec. 9, 2016.  She was born Oct. 28, 1933 in Chicago to Joseph and Elsie (Peterson) Urban.  She was named after her father Joe and Aunt Anna.

Joanne graduated from Taft High School and went on to study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the Secretarial School of Northwestern University.  While at Madison, she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.  After college, she worked for AB Dick alongside her soon-to-be sisters-in-law, Mary and Barb Conklin.

On April 9, 1960 she married James B. Conklin in Illinois.  They raised their family in Park Ridge, IL, and retired to their home on Glidden Drive in Sturgeon Bay in 1988.  She and her husband were past members of the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club and the Glidden Drive Association.  Joanne was an active volunteer at the Miller Art Center and the Door County Memorial Hospital.  She also founded the Arts in Action Program of the schools in Door County.  Her husband preceded her in death on Dec. 5, 2015.

Survivors include 2 children, James Conklin, Sturgeon Bay and Beth (Doug) Bryan, Buffalo Grove, IL; 2 grandchildren, Spencer and Alexander Bryan; 2 nieces, Martha (Jeff) Gates and Kristina Pfeifer, and a nephew Robert Pfeifer.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Donald Urban, and in-laws, Mary Conklin, Barbara Pfeifer and Richard Conklin.

Friends may call at the Forbes Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until noon.   A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon, conducted by Rev. David Leistra.  Burial will be in Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago.  Memorials may be directed to the Miller Art Center.