Joan Domke, 1922-2012

My mother died today. She was the co-founder of the PGT. She had a stroke three-weeks ago which left her bed-bound. We honored her wishes and kept her at home here at the PGT.

Visitation will be at the Dulle Trimble Funeral Home this coming Saturday (January 14th) from 2-4 PM.

Here is her obituary:

Joan Marie Domke died peacefully on January 11th, 2012 at her home in New Bloomfield. She was 89. A visitation will be held at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home on Saturday. A private graveside service will be held at the family’s cemetery in New Bloomfield.

She was born December 18, 1922 in Kankakee, IL to Rose and Francis J. Sullivan. Her father was a psychiatrist and she grew up on the grounds of Kankakee State Hospital. After graduating from high school, she attended Purdue University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. She moved to Chicago to work at the city’s health department, and met her husband-to-be, Herbert R. Domke. He was the love of her life. They married June 14, 1944 in Chicago. He preceded her in death July 21, 1991.

Joan and Herb raised four children and they survive: Catherine Teague of Novato, CA; Jane Domke of Columbia, MO; Henry Domke and wife Lorna of New Bloomfield, MO; and Beth Worthington of St Louis, MO. She has one grandchild, Rebecca Jenkins of Woodacre, CA, and two great-grandchildren, Anna Traub and Indigo Jenkins.

Joan and Herb loved to dance the polka, and they also loved travel and music. Both also loved the beauty and serenity of nature, and were avid gardeners and bird-watchers. When they moved to New Bloomfield in 1970, their interest in gardening expanded into an appreciation of the natural landscape. They began to focus on enhancing what was there and adding more native plants. They founded the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT), a nature garden whose mission is to share the beauty of nature seen in its woods, prairies, ponds and streams. The development of the PGT was a family activity, and Joan’s son Henry and his wife Lorna have become the new leaders in the transition from a beautiful private nature garden to a public one that can be enjoyed by many.

Special thanks are also noted to Kathy Marquart who lovingly helped to care for Joan and to the SSM Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Prairie Garden Trust (www.prairiegardentrust.org).

Joan sits in a wheelchair at the PGT Visitor Center

Joan had a mild stroke last night. It has affected the left side of her body. We are trying to arrange for 24-hour to keep her at home since that is her wish.

Joan has lived on the PGT property since 1970. She co-founded the PGT a couple decades ago with my father; Herb.  Five years she moved into the new PGT Visitor Center.

Today also happens to be Joan’s 89th birthday!