JONESBORO - Mrs. Wilma Joan Sweitzer, 66, passed away at 4:32 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
She was born July 11, 1942, in Alto Pass.
She was the daughter of Norman G. and Opal E. Martin Hickam.
Joan is survived by three children, Patricia Ann Rendleman (Mike Henard) of Jonesboro, Angela Renee Kelley (Tim Bowen) of Jonesboro, Victoria Joan and husband, Peter Wright, of Jonesboro; her father and stepmother, Norman G. and Betty Hickam of Jonesboro; two brothers, George Jeffery and wife, Kim Hickam, of Jonesboro, Jack Hickam of Jonesboro; two sisters, Judith Dian Hickam (Fred Crews) of Anna, Juliana Maria Hickam of Anna; six grandchildren, Heather Danielle and husband, Kevin Aden, Matthew Wayne Laster, Olivia Catherine Grace Bowen, Peter John Wright II, Emma Marie Bowen and Ethan William Bowen; one great-grandchild, Kaleb Allen Aden; very special nieces and nephews, Jenny, Louie, Mallory, Mariah, Skylar and Louie Hertter of Carbondale, Jaime Hickam of St. Louis, Jackie and Lilly Hickam of St. Louis, Jeffrey Allen Hickam of Marion, Justin Hickam of Cobden, Sherry, Jason and Nicholas Sutliff of Cobden, Jeremy, Katie, Grace and Declan Hickam of Carbondale, Jill, Adam Jared, and Jacy Mays of Carbondale, C.J., Bryce, Broderick and Charles III Hartline of Cape Girardeau and Chad, Miah, Dai, Ariel and Aubrey Hartline of Cape Girardeau; other very special people in Joan's life, Joyce Ann, Jim and Zac Stout, Joey Pritchett and family of Carbondale, Jim Whiel and family of Murphysboro, Shaun Davis of Cobden, Ruby and Eddie Meade and family of Arkansas, Dr. Quincy Scott and family of Carbondale; special close friends, Pat and Earl Lingle and family of Alto Pass, Linda Gibbs and family of Alto Pass, and Nancy Zukoski of West Frankfort and Karen Walters of Carbondale; and many other special cousins, family members, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Opal E. Hickam; a daughter, Deborah Lynn; and very special nephew, Jeffery Scott Hickam.
Wilma worked her entire nursing career as an LPN at Jackson County Rehab Center, caring for many of Southern Illinois' elderly.
She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post 3455 of the VFW in Anna.
She was an amazing "one" to all of her wonderful nieces and nephews.
Joan adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart.
She was the "one" that you called any time of the day or night to help you figure out life or to help you find a way to explain your problems to your parents.
Joan was a strong and beautiful mother, sister, aunt, daughter and friend to all who knew her, and she will be sincerely missed.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Richard Bittle officiating.
Burial will be in Alto Pass Cemetery.
Published in The Southern Illinoisan from 1/27/2009 - 2/2/2009
Note: Joan tranferred to A J in her senior year and graduated with the Class of 1960.