Joan M. Walden

KEWANEE – Joan M. Walden, 87, of Kewanee, died at 12:00 a.m., Friday, January 20, 2023 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 26 at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu. Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with recitation of the rosary at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo. Memorials may be directed to Visitation Catholic School. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

She was born December 4, 1935 in Geneseo, the daughter of Clifford and Lillian (Peterson) Lewis. She married Darrel DeDecker on August 31, 1954 and they later divorced. She then married David Walden in 1997 and he preceded her in death in 2009. Survivors include her two sons, Drew (Lynn) DeDecker of Evergreen Park, IL and Darren DeDecker (Theresa Harayda) of Peoria, her brother-in-law, Lou VanDeVoorde of Kewanee, five grandchildren; Derek (Jenna) DeDecker, Andrew DeDecker, Laura (Ray) Johnson, Denise DeDecker and Dirk (Katherine) DeDecker and two great grandchildren, Hailey and Avery. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a nephew, Gerald VanDeVoorde and her twin sister, Jan VanDeVoorde.

Joan graduated from Geneseo High School in 1953. She had worked in insurance as an agent in Peoria and Bonita Springs, FL where she resided for 24 years retiring after 35 years. She was a member of Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. She enjoyed flower gardening, flea markets, antiquing, traveling and playing bridge.

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