Joan Cogley Hopkinson
Posted By Families Firstcare On April 8, 2020 @ 4:16 pm In Obituaries | 17 Comments
Joan Cogley Hopkinson lived a full life and died of natural causes on April 8, 2020.
Joan Cogley was born January 4, 1929, on the family farm outside of Grinnell, Iowa, the fifth of thirteen children to Clara and John Cogley. John was a cattle buyer, Clara a home-and-garden maker. Joan’s dream as a young girl was to go to college; she pursued her college degree for many years while working as a medical technologist, finally graduating with a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1964. Soon afterwards, Joan met and married Harold R. Hopkinson, and they settled into their east-side Milwaukee, WI home, rearing children Caroline Marie and John Thomas. After their divorce, Joan joined the Milwaukee Public School system as a teacher, eventually earning a master’s degree and becoming a reading specialist for many years at Rufus King High School. Joan retired in 1989 to Grinnell and a beautiful home she had built there, which featured a flower garden she designed and planted. Joan lived in Grinnell for ten years, then joined Caroline in Savannah, GA, downsizing to a smaller house where she enjoyed a quiet life of reading and working in the garden. There she very much enjoyed occasional rummage sales, having Caroline and friends over for supper, and visiting with John, his wife Christine and their two children, Emma and Broderick (Brodie.)
Joan loved beautiful things, had good taste and an “eye” for furniture, jewelry and clothes– as a young woman she was a striking, elegant presence. She collected antiques to fill her well-appointed homes. In later years, she translated her “eye” into a pretty successful “junk business” as she called it, scouring rummage sales for good buys and reselling her finds. Joan was also a seeker of knowledge, a reader, and she appreciated good conversation, especially about ideas, books, and politics. Joan loved her family and valued character highly. She was immensely proud of her parents and siblings, and devoted to her children, ever-supportive of their pursuits. She was (justifiably) enchanted by her grandchildren and started college funds at their births, investing in them regularly for 20 years. Joan’s children are most grateful for her example of empathy, consideration for others, and a life lived in tune with her well-crafted values.
A favorite phrase was “getting old ain’t for sissies, and Joan was helped in her old age by some good friends and neighbors, and in the last years by caregivers: Cheryl Wilder, Victoria Morgan, Jasmine Williams and Leigh Woods. Thank you!
Joan is predeceased by her parents, siblings Betty, Eleanor, Bernice, Avis, Barbara, Clarence, Marilyn, Keith, James and Allen, and nephews Colin Cogley and Kevin Lang. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, sister Pat Lang, brother Roy Cogley, and many nieces and nephews.
Joan did not want a formal memorial service. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that in Joan’s memory– read to a child, help out a neighbor, consider another person’s point of view.
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Condolences for the family of “Joan Cogley Hopkinson”
To Caroline and Joan Hopkinson’s family: Thank you for sharing Joan’s life with us here. It sounds like she was an inspiration and lived a beautiful life. It is never easy to lose someone you love. I know there will be many moments of sadness set in gratitude for all the love she shared with you all. Blessings,
Rev Susan Karlson
Thankful for my friendship/ care giver relationship with Miss Joan and daughter Caro. I also had the opportunity to meet her son as well. Miss Joan was a smart, thoughtful, woman . She had a quick wit , was a hard working woman , a giver , a stoic soul . I learned a lot from her in the Two years I was a care provider for her. I will miss her … Rest In Peace Miss Joan , best and much love, Cheri
I’m sorry for your loss. Sending prayers.
Please accept my sincere condolences. She seems like a lovely lady
My deepest Condolences. I only knew her through Cheryl’s posts but could tell that she was a very special lady. I’m sure her passing leaves a big void for all her knew her. Fly high with those Angel Wings Miss Joan!
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Tom and Sue Kolk
I am so sorry for your loss of your mother. It is wonderful to know, however, that she lived a full and rewarding life. Her obituary is lovely, full of so many details that provide a window into her love of beauty and learning. I see many of her qualities and outlooks on life shining forth in the world through her loving daughter, Caroline, who I feel privileged to know.
Our Hearts go out to the family , try not to be Sad this beautiful soul is dancing with the Angels in Heavens flower gardens .
Caroline & John (and family)…please let our sincere sympathies be a comfort to you all at this tender time of loss. Your mom’s obituary is beautifully written, and paints a lovely picture of her life…lived long and full.
Hold fast to your memories of her – Terry & Jody Lang of Jefferson, Iowa
We were so very sorry to hear of Joan’s death. As I read her obituary I am impressed by her expanse of interests, and that she continued being active even in the later years of her life. I know how she loved her children and how proud she was of them as they have excelled in their lives. She will be deeply missed by those who loved her.
Dear Caroline, John and Emma and Brody,
Our prayers are with you as you deal with this loss. I was young when I met her,I thought she was a lovely, intelligent woman. Our hugs for each of you.
So sorry to hear about your sister, Pat Lang. She sounded like a remarkable woman.
I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. She was a beautiful lady and loved by all of you so much. Prayers for you all. Prayers for you to feel Gods comfort at this time.
Love,
Angie, Cole, Alex and Seth Reinhardt
My deepest sympathy, Caroline, to you and your family. Your mother sounds truly lovely, and the request at the end of her memorial says so much about who she was and who all of you are. Bless you.
Caroline and John
I have such fond memories of your Mom. Allen and I used to drive up to Milwaukee and spend time with your family. Most of the Cogley family lived in Iowa, there was comfort in having some family only one and one half hours away.
Always wonderful food, great family time in that beautiful home in Milwaukee. Joan was an accomplished professional
woman, admired and respected. So sorry for your loss of someone so important in your life.
I’m so sorry to learn of Joan’s passing. I wish I had been able to know her. The obit is lovely and honors a great family with a wonderful legacy of solid midwestern sensibility. May God Bless her and her loved ones.
Ty Dunn
(Clara-Betty-Linda-Ty)
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What a lovely remembrance of a woman we are all grateful for. If not for her, we would not have John Hopkinson in our lives. Thank you Joan. I see where John has received the love of tag sales and kindness to others. This makes me smile. With love to the entire family. We are so sorry for your loss.