Joan loves crafting, reading, and collecting things. She grew up in Newton, Kansas where her father, a native of Harvey County, owned Hessler Planing Mill and was an accomplished woodworker. Like her father, Joan is crafty
and learned how to sew from her mother, which sparked her love for sewing.
Joan has lived in Newton, Wichita, Kansas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now back in Newton. She had three children with her first husband, her two daughters still living in Albuquerque and her son sadly having passed away six years ago.
While in Albuquerque, Joan made several hundred baby blankets, usually in flannel, for an organization that gave them to families for their newborns. She produced several layettes and made her family’s clothes, attended craft
shows, took a tailoring class, and worked at a craft store for 3-4 years. Joan’s longest profession was being a receptionist at a real estate firm for more than 10 years with her second husband. She also helped Hallmark redo their
displays in stores.
Joan eventually moved back to Newton once she married Rick Stineman after reconnecting with him at a high school reunion. They were married for almost 7 years before Rick’s passing, and soon after, Joan moved to KCH.
Joan still loves to collect things and create things. She has found her favorite shops are Et Cetera and the antiques store, wherein she can spend hours. She loves to nail things to the walls and create angels out of different glass parts.
She collects beautiful dishes and owns a China cabinet with her grandma’s trinkets, her mom’s collectibles, and her own collection she has gathered through the years. She is a member of the First Christian Church and enjoys helping people and being around people. She currently lives with her cat Brady, whom she rescued from an animal shelter.