Joan Marie Lonstine (nee Matuska), age 76 of the Village of Sister Bay and formerly of the Village of Homewood, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the Jack and Engrid Meng Residence – Unity Hospice.
Joan was born on December 8, 1946, to the late Paul and Mary (Kutlik) Matuska in Blue Island, IL. She graduated from Blue Island High School in 1964. After high school, she attended and graduated as Cum Laude from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology. Joan was united in marriage to Dennis A. Lonstine in a candlelit ceremony on June 26, 1971, at The Wayside Chapel at the Center in Palos Park, IL. Joan worked for the Flossmoor Public School District as a Speech Pathologist in Flossmoor, IL, and in antique shops and boutiques in the south Chicago suburban area.
Joan was a devoted stay-at-home mother to not only her son, Matthew, but also the children of friends and in her own community. She created a Williamsburg style garden in the front yard of their Cape Cod home in Homewood, for which she received three Beautification Awards from the Village of Homewood. She loved home decorating, collecting fine art, folk art, and antiques to create the Williamsburg Style interior. Her cooking and baking skills were outstanding, and she was known for her delectable Lemon Pound Cake and her Mile High Apple Pie. Combined with her baking skills, she was well known for textile home goods, cross stitch, needle point, and rug hooking. Joan had an immense love for animals, especially dogs. It was not uncommon for Joan to tell Dennis to stop the car whenever she saw a stray dog in the road.
Joan is survived by her beloved husband, Dennis Lonstine; dearest mother of Matthew Lonstine; loving grandmother of Damen and Reagan Lonstine; aunt, Roberta Kutlik; cousins, Ross (Judy) Sowl, Kevin (Barbara) Kutlik, Julie (Steve) Maty, Beverly Dierking, and Barbara (Kenneth) Kamper; sisters-in-law, Diane Calcagno and Mabra McCumber; and aunt to many nieces and nephews of her husband. Joan is further survived by other family and friends in Wisconsin and Illinois.
She is preceded in death by her parents; aunt Mildred (Gene) Sowl; uncles Mike (Ida) Matuska and Kenneth Kutlik; sister-in-law, Marlene Iandolo; and cousin, Mickey Matuska.
A memorial service will be held in the spring for Joan’s Door County friends and family.
The Lonstine family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the angels of Unity Hospice and all the dear family, friends and neighbors who gave their support and comfort to Joan.
The Lonstine family is being assisted by Casperson Funeral Home of Sister Bay. Those wishing to express sympathy, share memories, or offer photos of Joan may do so on her tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.