Joan Mae (Rockers) Mersman
March 21, 1931 ~ March 14, 2023
Joan Mae (Rockers) Mersman, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Maryville Care Center in Beaverton, OR on March 13, 2023. She was born in Garnett, KS to Anthony Rockers and Veronica (Feuerborn) Rockers on March 21, 1931, one of 9 children, having 6 brothers and 2 sisters. Joan grew up on the family farm attending school in Greeley and Paola, Kansas. She attended Ursuline Academy, an all girls high school in Paola. Joan was married to Norbert J. Mersman in Greeley, KS on April 28, 1952 upon Norbert’s completion of service in both WWII and the Korean War. They quickly moved to Wichita, KS where Norbert had accepted a job with Boeing Aircraft. The couple had 5 children over the next 13 years, amid transfers for Boeing to Orlando, FL then back to Wichita, followed by a transfer to Ft. Worth, TX and then back to Wichita again. Once the children were all in school Joan began a 12-year career with the Dept. of Education, USD #259 in the communications department. She also was an active volunteer, particularly with the St. Francis Hospital Pediatric Hospice program. Boeing transferred Norbert one last time to Lisbon, Portugal where Joan was very happy to have the opportunity to travel throughout Europe with a highlight of visiting relatives in the small town of Twist, Germany where her family immigrated from in 1839. After moving back to Wichita, they settled into retirement with a part-time and eventual full-time home in Mesa, AZ where Joan enjoyed many activities, with her favorite being a member of the Barbershop Belles vocal quartet.Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Norbert (2019); son, Chris (1978); and son-in-law, Jim Fenwick (2022). She is survived by her 4 children, Ron (Cheryl) Mersman, Gayle Fenwick, Jeff (Nidia Martinez) Mersman and Jon (Stephanie) Mersman; 11 grandchildren, Tyler (Angela) Fenwick, Casey (Ashley) Fenwick, Shannon (Thad) Espy, Lindsey Mersman, Blake Self, Jacob Self, Chris Mersman, Allie (Charles) Lottridge, Jacob Flint, Brandon Flint, Rachelle Flint; 10 great-grandchildren, Kyleigha Fenwick, Kayden Fenwick, Kiptyn Fenwick, London Fenwick, Kai Fenwick, Jaxon Henderson, Atlas Espy, Ryan Espy, Nora Lottridge, Charles Lottridge; brother Delmar Rockers.Joan and Norbert started out with about 80 nieces and nephews and are survived by most of those.Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 18, 2023; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Wednesday April 19, 2023, both at Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E 21st St. N, Wichita, KS 67206. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 610 S. Vassar St., Wichita, KS 67218. We thank you and appreciate your thoughts and prayers, however, instead of flowers, Joan has requested any donations go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN, 38105, PH. 901-595-3300, on behalf of the Mersman family.Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
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The Mersman’s and Bob & Linda Gerken lived one condo apart in SVE Mesa Az. We had so many great times together! Joan is now enjoying the company of many loved ones family and friends. I’m sure she’ll have a lot of laughs with Bert & Bob. Bert is probably saying what in the heck took you so long to get here! My best to you kids, as we really were, are a family! Miss those Thanksgiving afternoon uniting.❤️🤗