Joanne Owen (87) of Maryville, formerly of St. Elmo

Joanne Owen, age 87, of Maryville, Illinois, formerly of St. Elmo, Illinois passed away at 11:55 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois. She was a resident of Liberty Village Nursing Facility in Maryville, Illinois. 

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Pagel Funeral Home in St. Elmo, Illinois. Dan Laack will be officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Pagel Funeral Home. Burial will be at McInturff Cemetery in rural Hagarstown, Illinois. Memorials may go to the First United Methodist Church in St. Elmo, Illinois or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking here. 

Joanne was born on January 5, 1932 in Vandalia, Illinois, the daughter of Virgil and Freida (Kistler) Elmore. Joanne was raised in Hagarstown, Illinois. During her high school years, the family moved to Altamont, Illinois, where she graduated from high school in 1950. In the fall of 1950, Joanne and some of her classmates went to St. Louis, Missouri, to find work. She landed a job with Illinois Terminal Railroad. She remained there for 40 years retiring in 1990 with Norfolk & Western after they bought out the Illinois terminal. In 1953, she met Robert Owen when they were both in St. Louis. They were married in May of 1954 at the First United Methodist Church in St. Elmo, Illinois. Joanne’s father, Reverend Virgil Elmore officiated the wedding. Joanne was a member of the First United Methodist Church in St. Elmo. She loved strawberries, sewing, gardening, canning vegetables and fruits, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Joanne is survived by her son, Brian Owen (wife Brenda) of Collinsville, Illinois; four granddaughters, Marcy Vetrone (husband Jason) of Collinsville, Illinois, Gessica Handegan (husband Brandon) of Troy, Illinois, Casey Massey (husband Clint) of Troy, Illinois, and Brittany Mersinger (husband Todd) of Troy, Illinois; three great-grandchildren, Haleigh Mersinger, Hunter Mersinger and Collin Massey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Freida Elmore; husband, Robert Owen; and sister, Marilyn Elmore.