Joan Koorndyk was born September 23, 1936 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During her teenage years, Joan worked as a hospital volunteer. There she met a patient named Gene Dennison, who was recovering from a serious car accident. After several years of dating, Gene and Joan were married on July 27, 1957. Joan graduated nursing school and worked as a nurse for several years, helping put her husband through medical school. In 1966, Gene and Joan moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then to Hendersonville in 1968.
Joan was a sewing enthusiast who specialized in needlepoint and quilting; she made everything from potholders and pillows to Christmas stockings and quilts. Joan was an avid flower gardener; she especially loved tulips, peonies, zinnias and gladiolas. She also helped in her husband’s vegetable garden, and supervised the canning and freezing of lots of veggies. She also produced a variety of homemade pickles and pickle relish. Like her husband, Joan was a bird watcher; towhees and cardinals were favorites. The birdbath was always positioned where Joan could see it from her recliner.
Joan was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church, where she served with the flower guild, altar guild, vestry and kitchen ministry. For several years Joan supervised a soup kitchen than provided food for the homeless. Joan was also active with the Garden Club of Hendersonville; she won numerous awards for her arrangements, and served as treasurer for a time.
Joan passed peacefully the afternoon of March 25, 2022 at The Bridge at Lake Pointe Landing. She was preceded in death by parents Harold and Johanna Koorndyk; brother Earl; and her loving husband of 64 years, Gene. She is survived by her brother Harold and sister Sandra; children Carl (Lou Ann), Eric (Susan), Ann (Neal Marrano) and Tom (Lisa); grandchildren Michael, William (Emily), Mary Jo (Jonathan LeCroy), Jessie, Jake (Kayli), Luke (Jessica) and Mitch. The family is being served by Jackson Funeral Home; video tribute available online. A joint memorial service was held for Gene and Joan on March 26, 2022 at St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, NC.