Joan M Kimball

Joan M Kimball of, 82, of Punta Gorda, FL passed away on March 27th, 2025, with family by her side following a brief illness. 

Joan was born on March 5, 1943, to John J. McKenna and Pauline J. McKenna in Boston, Massachusetts. 

She was married to the love of her life Harry Kenneth Kimball on September 22, 1962 in the Holy Name church in West Roxbury Massachusetts, and began a life full of love, family, adventure and learning. 

Her memory will live on in the hearts of her children Karen M. Kimball (fiancé Al Songer); Nancy A. Berko (husband Andrew Berko predeceased); Harry K. Kimball Jr (Ken) (wife Joette Kimball) and her grandchildren Brenna Joan Kimball & Kenneth (Max) Kimball whom she cherished every day.

 Joan is predeceased by her beloved husband, parents, and brothers Paul T. McKenna (Maureen McKenna predeceased) and John J McKenna (Jackie) (wife Maryann McKenna)

Joan always had a love of learning and began her early education in Boston schools.  This is where she met her lifelong best friend, Mary Morris.  This was a friendship that stood the test of time and meant the world to her.  She earned her bachelor’s degree and continued on to earn her master’s in public administration in 2001 at the age of 58.   Her focus on lifelong learning led to a career at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, Digital Equipment Company and Broward County.  She took great pride in her work and was well respected by her peers until her retirement. She was proud to have built a career that she enjoyed, that supported her family and through which she could demonstrate a great work ethic to her children. 

The most important thing to Joan was her family. She lived in Salem, NH from 1968-1992.  She often spoke of her great neighbors, and she loved the home and life they built there while raising her children.  It was during this time that the family started their travel adventures.  Harry would plan the trip, and Joan would work the magic that would make it all happen.  They spent years both in campers and on boats enjoying the country and sharing their desire to see new places with their children.  

Not everyone may know this, but Joan was quite artistic. She loved painting and decorating.   Sometimes that meant creating beautiful artwork and sometimes that meant creating and displaying her own unique holiday decorations.  It was also not unheard of for Ken Sr to come home to find Joan on a ladder painting one of the rooms in the house.   This of course meant that others might be “encouraged” to participate.   She was so full of enthusiasm for her projects that you just couldn’t say to no to her new ideas.   

Despite her wonderful sense of humor, she never craved the spotlight and was happy to enjoy her family and life as it naturally developed. New neighbors often became quick friends because they enjoyed her company so much.  When her children met their spouses, they were immediately embraced and made to feel like family which they will always remember and appreciate. 

With the arrival of her grandchildren her horizons changed. She told them and showed them that they were loved in every way.  Even when they weren’t together, she would think of them daily and it was not unusual for the kids to receive packages of items that she had picked while she was out and just thinking of them.  She stocked the pantry with any item the kids and family loved even if it was just for a few days.   Despite living in different states, we were blessed to be able to spend many birthdays and holidays together which will be lifelong memories. 

As she got older, she loved the peace and tranquility of her home which was decorated with her cherished blue and white ceramics collection as well as a vast collection of lighthouses that represented many of places she had been. No matter who visited her there they always felt at ease and happy to be there.  Even though life had slowed down a bit she still loved to tell stories of her time in Boston, raising her kids and her adventures traveling.  As a family and as couple, Joan and Ken were blessed to travel all over.  One of their cherished places was the Florida Keys.  They found love and happiness there.  In early retirement years they traveled by boat, the furthest south they made it was the Florida Keys so its only fitting their eternal journey together will start here.  The family will be planning a memorial boat trip and dinner to honor them both.  This is targeted for September in the Florida Keys around their anniversary.  Details will follow.