Joan (JoAnn) Wilson

Joan (JoAnn) Wilson, 91, formerly of Raytown, Missouri, passed away on March 27, 2026, at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Joan was born on March 1, 1935, in Warrensburg, Missouri, to Vernon and Lillie (Bell) Elwell. She graduated from College High (also known as the College Laboratory School) at Central Missouri State College and later earned a degree in Music from Central Missouri State College.

While in college, Joan met the love of her life, Robert (Bob/Bud) G. Wilson. They were married on May 27, 1956. Soon after marrying they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, eventually returning to Missouri and making Raytown their lifelong home. Joan and Bob were deeply involved in Raytown Christian Church, where Joan was a member of the choir and bell choir.

Joan taught music in the Raytown School District. She took time away from her career to raise her two children and later returned to the school district as an active PTA member and participant in the Picture Lady Program, promoting art and artists to students. She eventually resumed full-time work in the Raytown School District as a librarian and earned a Master of Library Science degree from Central Missouri State.

She was a member of the Missouri State Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. An avid reader and bird watcher, Joan cherished traveling with her family throughout the United States and Canada, embracing travel as a gift and a shared family adventure. In retirement, she was a docent at the Truman Library conducting research.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. (Bud) Wilson, and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Julie (Wilson) Sledd; her grandchildren, Garrett, Emily, and Katie, all of Raytown, Missouri; and her son, Kevin Wilson, and his wife, Athena, of Kimberling City, Missouri.

The family is forever grateful to the care teams at John Knox Village, where Joan was content, safe, and happy, and where she enjoyed forming connections with those who cared for her.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society Celebration of Life Center, 802 NW Vesper Street, Blue Springs, Missouri 64015.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

• Raytown Educational Foundation, 10750 E 350 Highway, Raytown, MO 64138 and/or
• Hospice by John Knox Village Foundation, 600 NW Pryor Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081