Joan Toulouse's Obituary
TOULOUSE, JOAN VAN DEVENTER, beloved mother, spouse, sister, grandparent, and great-grandparent, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2013 after a brief illness in Dallas, Texas, where she has resided since 1967. She was born May 27, 1925 on a farm in Yale, Iowa, to Sadie Gladys Rater Van Deventer and James Earl Van Deventer. A graduate of East High School in Des Moines, Iowa, she married Orville Jack Toulouse on November 3, 1943 at First Pilgrim Church in Des Moines. They have four children: Rand Earl Toulouse, married to Charlene Leuenberger Toulouse; Stephen Jack Toulouse, married to Pamela Browning Toulouse; Mark Gene Toulouse, married to Jeffica Smith Toulouse, and Joni Kathleen Toulouse Cleveland, married to Richard Cleveland. After moving to Dallas, Joan and Jack faithfully served as Sunday School Superintendents at First Baptist Church for more than 20 years. For a number of years, she worked in Admitting at Baylor University Medical Center. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband of fifty years, Jack, and her brother James Beryl Van Deventer. She is survived by her brother Charles Andrew Van Deventer, and his wife Gretta, her 4 children and their spouses, her 13 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren (with one more due in May), and many nieces and nephews. Joan’s life can be summed up by the words family, faith, and chocolate (not necessarily in priority order!). Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 13 at Restland Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00pm. A private service for family will be held the following day. Memorials may be directed in her name to the American Heart Association or to First Baptist Church, Dallas.
What’s your fondest memory of Joan?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joan?
Share a story where Joan's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joan you’ll never forget.
How did Joan make you smile?