Joanne Neely Meihls, age 77, entered heaven to be with her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 20, 2021, in Bruceton, Tennessee, after her brave battle with vascular dementia. Joanne, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Evansville, Indiana, on April 19, 1943, to the late Lonnie Dee Neely and Clara King Neely. Her two brothers, Reverend James R. Neely and Thomas W. Neely, preceded her in death.
Joanne graduated from Horace Mann High School in Gary, Indiana. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, where she also met her husband and then taught primary grades in Highland, Illinois, and Washington, Indiana.
On July 17, 1965, Joanne was united in holy matrimony with Charles L. Meihls of Attica, Indiana. At the time of her death, they had been married 55 years. A wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, she was deeply devoted to her family.
Joanne is survived by her loving husband Charles, along with their three children: E. E. Meihls of Elmwood, Tennessee; Shana S. Fuller (Dane) of Corpus Christi, Texas; and Misti M. Wiggins (Steve) of Memphis, Tennessee; and seven grandchildren: Wyatt (Dara), Ruth, Olivia, and Asher Wiggins; and Joseph, Harrison, and Henry Fuller. Additional beloved family members are Reverend Neely’s kindhearted wife, Carol; Charles's caring sisters, Carolyn Mahoy and Marilyn Thrush; and many dear nieces and nephews.
Among other beautiful qualities, Joanne was a remarkable cook, an excellent teacher, and a Godly life example for her family and friends around her. In her later days, she longed to be "home with Jesus." All who knew her trusts she now lives in heaven, and she will be dearly missed by those she left behind. Joanne was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee.
Funeral services will be held at Dilday-Carter Funeral Home in Huntingdon, Tennessee, 11:00AM on Friday, February 26, 2021. Entombment will follow at the Carroll Memorial Gardens in McKenzie, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the Meihls family requests donations be made to Groundworks Ministries, Post Office Box 382693, Germantown, Tennessee 38183.
The family will receive friends at Dilday-Carter Funeral Home on Friday, February 26, 2021 from 10:00AM until time of services at 11:00AM.
Dilday-Carter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements 731-986-8281.
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