Joan P. Chalmers
Joan Chalmers, age 79, of Champlin passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1931, Joan and her family witnessed the Pearl Harbor attacks on December 7, 1941 from the windows of their home overlooking Diamond Head. Joan attended Roosevelt High School for two years where she met Dick Chalmers, who would later become her husband. A lucky twist relocated both of them to Hilo High School, where they became high school sweethearts. Dick left Hawaii to attend college in California; in the two years they spend apart they wrote letters to each other every day. After one year of college in Hawaii, Joan transferred to San Jose State College to study Library Science and to be closer to Dick. In 1953, Dick and Joan were married in San Jose, California. Although their parents could not attend the couple wore leis to honor their Hawaiian roots. Joan graduated from college in 1953 and worked briefly as a school librarian before having two children, Eric and Rae.
Joan’s passion for the arts blossomed in the 1960’s when she studied ceramics and later taught pottery classes at a small in-home studio. Her work in clay was deeply satisfying too her. When Dick’s job moved the family from California to Wisconsin and then to Minnesota, Joan became an integral part of the arts community in each state- first, at the Firehouse Fine Arts Center in Cedarburg, Wisconsin and then with the Minnesota Crafts Council. In 2002 Joan received an award for her arts advocacy from the Minnesota Citizens of the Arts and was very proud and honored to have received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Crafts Council. Joan also served on Champlin’s Environmental Resource Commission for many years and volunteered with the Champlin Historical Society.
After Dick retired, he and Joan travelled around the world, visiting Indonesia, Greece and Turkey. The two often returned to Hawaii to visit family, friends and their childhood stomping grounds. At home in Champlin, Joan was an avid gardener and active member of the Champlin Garden Club.
Joan is survived by her husband of 59 years, Dick Chalmers; son, Eric (Nancy) Chalmers and their children Ryan and Kristen; daughter, Rae (Tom) McLaughlin and their children Alison and Lauren. The family would like to thank all of Joan’s friends across the country who contributed to and enjoyed Joan’s infectious laugh.
Memorial service will be held on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 10 AM, at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis. Private interment in Hawaii.
If so desired, memorials may be directed to Library Foundation of Hennepin County in Memory of Joan Chalmers.
Remembering Joan
I was fortunate to have known Joan. I met her at a craft fair in 1974 where she was exhibiting her pottery. The ever gregarious Joan told me she was offering ceramics classes in her home and I immediately signed up! Every week I and fellow students, Ginger and Jan, got together in Joan's basement building slab pottery and wheel throwing pots. Joan was incredibly generous and intelligent. She organized field trips to other artist's studios for us. We had the best of times! We kept in touch for a while after Dick and Joan left Cedarburg, WI to live in Champlin. I've thought about her often over the years and am lucky to own one of her sculptural vessels. It graces our home and I think of her everytime I look at it. Thank you Joan for the joy you gave and the hearts you touched.
Aloha, Josn
Joan and I were close friends in seventh and eighth grades at Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate School in Honolulu and at Roosevelt HIgh School before she moved to Hilo. We were together again in our first two years of college at the University of Hawaii before both of us went on to college on the mainland. Those were heady days for teen-aged girls -- wartime Honolulu was vibrant and exciting, once it became evident that we were no longer in danger from the Japanese.
Even as a kid, Joan was dynamic and talented. I remember her with fondness and, yes, with a little envy for her many talents.
Rest in peace, Joan, under the winds and showers and sun of Hawaii, that special place where we grew up. Dick, Eric and Rae, this isn't an easy time, but take comfort in remembering the joy of Joan's life and the mark she made on so many lives.
Aloha nui loa.
We extend our sincere
We extend our sincere condolences to Joan's entire family. When we lose someone we love in death it causes our hearts to fill with grief that can be hard to bear. But in this difficult time may you find strength from God's promise that one day we can be reunited with our loved ones by means of a resurrection and that this "enemy death" will be brought "to nothing". - John 5:28,29; 1Corinthians 15:26 May this precious hope that awaits us and your treasured memories of Joan bring you a measure of comfort now and in the days ahead.
The Dean family
Joan
For many years Joan was a favorite customer of mine at Terrace Horticultural Books. She would make the trip to St. Paul and be there early for our open house events. We had many conversations about her latest project and interest in gardening. Her interests matched mine in so many ways. Today it was just serendipity that drew me to the notice in the paper of Joan's passing. I extend my condolences to the family and wish God's grace will surround her and her loved ones as she returns home to Hawaii.
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