Joan Marie Pucelik

Joan Marie Pucelik, age 89, passed away at home surrounded by her family on October 26, 2023. She was born May 30, 1934, in Great Falls, Montana to John Calvin Earhart and Olive Teresa Earhart (Knaff). She called Montana home, even as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse until she met the love of her life, Jerome Pucelik, when they both attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Their sixty-seven years of marriage, love, understanding, and committed partnership began there and saw them through the rigors and transitions of his medical training and eventual medical practice, that only a true partner can appreciate. They moved from Omaha to Los Angeles, England, Detroit, Michigan, Aberdeen, South Dakota, and eventually found their forever home in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1965. They loved the warm people and beautiful sunshine of Las Cruces and raised their four girls in a nurturing home.

She will be remembered and missed as a wonderful mother, and a loving, devoted, and supportive wife who shared and communicated everything. She has four strong, independent daughters thankful for her mentorship and example in raising their own children, her ten grandchildren, whom she adored. She taught them how to be good partners themselves.

She also was an accomplished and creative cook, loved reading and crossword puzzles, a beautiful seamstress and needlepoint artist, and really enjoyed golfing with her friends. She and Dr. Pucelik loved to travel together, and had adventures all over the world including Antarctica, Africa, Nepal, Asia, and the South Pacific. She enjoyed it so much; she became a travel agent and owned her own business. She was a tireless volunteer for Girl Scouts, Hospital Auxiliary, Hospice, Salvation Army and served on Las Cruces School Board for many years. She has touched so many people’s lives through her efforts.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jerome; her daughters, Janet Pucelik, Patricia and husband Edwin Oto, Susan and husband Nick Steier, and Catherine and husband Klaus Kemmer; her grandchildren Kristina, Nicole, Michael, Jenny, Maggie, Pete, Calvin, Theresa, Nathan, and Victoria; and grandchildren, Mateo, Amelia, Hailee, and Zoey. They are her legacy and real love.

Her celebration of life will be a private event for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations in her name to Mesilla Valley Hospice.