Obituary of Joan K. Oehler

Joan K. Oehler, age 88 longtime resident of Coralville and Iowa City died Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the Lone Tree Health Center.

Private family services will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to National Aphasia Association (https://aphasia.org).  

Joan K. Collins was born August 9, 1935, in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Hubert P. and Lida B. (Graves) Collins.  She graduated with the Class of 1953 from Sacred Heart School in Ft. Dodge.  On February 1, 1958, she married Lawrence F. Oehler at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ft. Dodge.  The couple and their family lived in Ft. Dodge for 6 years before moving to Coralville where they resided for the next 42 years.   They had lived in Iowa City following this until Larry’s death.  Joan lived in North Liberty for two years after this.  For over 25 years Joan worked for United Technologies Automotive before retiring in 1999.  Joan and Larry were members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church and St. Patrick’s Church.   Joan’s family and her church were the most important part of her life.

Her family includes her children, Kathleen Koering (Jeff), Julie McCreedy (Mike), Rick Oehler (Tracey), Elizabeth Boal (Dave), Mary Freeman (Mike), and Kevin Oehler (Tracy); Grandsons, Bryan Boal, Dan Boal (Britany), Eric McCreedy (Stacey), Tyler McCreedy, Drew Koering (Kenzie), Jacob Freeman, Alex Freeman, Wyatt Oehler, and Camren Oehler; granddaughters, Kelly Franck (Gary), Stacey Fritz (Mike), Becca Freeman (Victor Carrillo) Abby Freeman and Ella Oehler; great grandchildren, Taylor Franck, Courtney Franck, Savanna Wright, Paisley Franck, Bennett McCreedy, Noah Boal, Brody Fritz, Jersey Fritz, Kuper Fritz, EJ Carrillo and Sophea Carrillo; sister-in-law, Roxie Alwine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter, Madelyn Freeman; brother, Richard J. Collins and his wife, Audrey; sisters, Mary Kearney and her husband, Bill, and Dolores Collins; brother-in-law, Kenneth Alwine.

Joan’s family would like to thank all at the Lone Tree Health Center for their compassionate exceptional care of Joan and our family while she was with you.