Joan Kathleen Fandel

Joan Kathleen Fandel In lieu of flowers please do a random act of kindness in Joan Fandel’s name. (October 22, 1930 - November 1, 2017) Joan K. Fandel (Kelly) passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 1, 2017 in Gig Harbor, Washington. Her passing was peaceful and allowed time for her children, grandchildren and many friends the opportunity to say good bye. Joan was born in Los Angeles California on October 22, 1930 the daughter of Walter Nicholas Kelly and Mary Delores Kelly (Giacomini). Joan was the only child to a military father (US Army Calvary) and a devoted wife and mother. Many of the summers of her youth were spent at the Giacomini family ranch in Merrill Oregon. At the end of World War II she traveled to Europe where her father was stationed, staying there until she graduated high school in Munich Germany. Her children remember the stories they were told every time they watched “The Sound of Music” of how the Von Trapp family home in nearby Salzburg been converted to an Officers Club and her family often they had dined there during their stay. Later, while her father was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas, she met and after a brief courtship married Thomas J Fandel in a small ceremony on base. After the Korean War ended and Thomas was released from military services, the two of them settled near the Fandel clan in St. Cloud Minnesota where the first two of five children were born. Desiring a more balanced weather environment they moved west to join her parents in Lakewood, Washington in 1956 where Tom went to work in the retail industry and Joan was a stay home mom. Two more children were born while they lived in Lakewood and a fifth child was born in 1962 after their move to Gig Harbor. It was there in Gig Harbor that Thomas and Joan found and purchased, with some sacrifice, the ideal spot along the waterfront where the five siblings would be raised. Joan spent many years as a stay home mom but also excelled in several jobs through the years to help out during some lean times. She was a clothier at an upscale shop at the Tacoma Mall known then as Mr. Rags’ where one day she was astonished to see the great Muhammad Ali walk through the door. She worked as a jeweler and also, as broadcasting was her minor in college, at KTNT radio. One of her recurring broadcasts there was the play by play for the annual Daffodil Parade. Later, through a corresponding continuing education program with the University of Puget Sound and Kansas State University, she received her degree. With the degree she was initially hire at Tacoma Community college but after a short time there moved to the University of Puget Sound where she spent the remaining years of her career in the continuing education department. Joan was beautiful and took great care of herself. She walked endlessly along the streets of Gig Harbor and worked out several times a week with friends at a local gym - all the way up into her 80’s. She enjoyed a large wardrobe and always dressed lavishly. She loved her Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson as well as the Seattle Sounders soccer team and was always dressed in colors for the games. Joan was preceded in death by her parents and by her loving husband Thomas. She is survived by five children, Thomas Joel “Kelly” Fandel (Terry), Kathleen Anne Carlson (Erik), Kevin John Fandel, K Michael Fandel (Deb) and Kerry Therese Wallingford (Pete). She was gifted of the love of eight grandchildren, Kjiel (Rachel) Carlson, Kellyn Carlson, Nicholas (Hanna) Fandel, Joel Fandel, Bevynn and Makenna Wallingford and Natalia and Sofia Fandel. Within the past year Joan and the entire family were blessed with her one and only great grandchild Leif Carlson. A celebration of the life of Joan Fandel will be held at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club on November 12 as 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers please do a random act of kindness in Joan Fandel’s name.