Joan Depew's Obituary
Joan Depew, age 91, of Moline, KS., passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2017 at the Stoneybrook Assisted Living Memory Care Center in Manhattan, KS.
Joan Nettleship, daughter of Lewis and Doris Nettleship, was born on December 27, 1925 at 35 Tickle Street in Denaby Main, England. As a fifteen year old graduate of high school, she falsified her age and joined the British Army serving for four and half years of active duty. Her job was serving meals in the dining hall for the British officers.
On March 7, 1945, Joan married Arthur Dwain Depew, an American G.I. from Grenola, Kansas, who was stationed in England while serving in the U.S. Navy. Shortly afterward, the war ended and Dwain was shipped back to the States. On February 14, 1946, Joan was in the first wave of wives allowed to leave Europe to join the love of her life. Joan traveled the seven day trip by boat on the Queen Mary where she arrived in New York catching a train to Independence, Kansas. Dwain borrowed his grandparents’ car and met Joan to take her to live in Grenola, Kansas in his parent’s home. A year later, they moved to Moline, Kansas where Dwain took a job at Horn’s IGA. Dwain died on December 27, 1997, in Yuma, Arizona, while wintering in the warm Arizona climate. Joan remained in Moline until March, 2014, when she moved to Stoneybrook Assisted Living in Manhattan, Kansas, to be closer to her son, Les Depew.
Joan worked various jobs during her days in Moline, Kansas. She worked at the Dairy Queen, the Moline Mercantile, and finally the Moline Food Market which she and Dwain owned for thirty three y ears. Joan could always be seen behind the register with a beautiful smile and warm greeting to all the customers that shopped in the grocery store. After selling the store in 1992, Joan and Dwain spent their time traveling in their fifth wheel and camper where Dwain would fish and hunt and Joan would cook and clean house.
Joan became an American citizen on January 15, 1957. She was an active member of the Moline Methodist Church and UMW for over sixty years. She was also a member of the American Legion.
She is survived by her son, Les Depew, and daughter-in-law, Marilyn Waters Depew, of Manhattan, Kansas. Also, surviving are two grandchildren, Kristi Depew Crawford and husband Danny both of Wylie, Texas, and Lori Depew Andrade and husband Rob, both of Cypress, Texas. Six great grandchildren: Jacob, Kyla, and Kade Crawford and Sofia, Bobby, and Caitlyn Andrade.
A visitation for family and friends will be at Countryside Funeral Home, 206 East Washington, in Howard, KS on Thursday, September 21, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. A joyous celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 22, 2017 at the Moline United Methodist Church in Moline, Kansas with Pastor Dena Allison officiating. Interment will follow at the Grenola Cemetery in Grenola, Ks.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Moline United Methodist Church or Stoneybrook Assisted Living Memory Care in Manhattan, Ks. and may be left at or mailed to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E Washington, PO Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.countrysidefh.com
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