Joan L. Harmon

Joan Louise (Kuhn) Harmon, 88, of Rockford, passed away peacefully on October 21. 

Joan was born November 1, 1934, in Cook County, IL, the daughter of Frank John Kuhn and Josephine (Jo) L. Peterlin. She is survived by her sisters Jo Ann (Raymond) Faltin and Patt (Thomas) Bockman, daughter Jane (Richard) Leider of San Francisco, California, sons Matthew Bliss (Dana Welte) Harmon of Rockford, and Thomas (Linda Zubke) Harmon of Merced, California, six grandchildren, Charlie and Fae Harmon, and Healy and El Leider of San Francisco, California, Maximilian Harmon of Rockford, and Jacob Bliss Harmon and his wife Natasha and daughter Mariana, of Chicago. Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Daryl Bliss Harmon, children Susan and Mark Harmon, brother Frank Kuhn, and sisters Olive (Robert) Matthewson and Mary Jean (Robert) Small.

Joan was raised on Chicago’s Southside, where she attended Fenger High School. As a girl, she waited on tables while her mother cooked at Jo’s Restaurant, their family’s diner on South Halstead Street. After high school, she attended Western Illinois State College at Macomb IL, where she was a member of the Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. It was there that Joan and Daryl (Bliss to many) met. They married on August 18, 1956, in Chicago, beginning 65 years of life together. Joan loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally, supporting all their pursuits. She possessed a gentle but strong spirit that empowered her to persevere in life even after the loss of two of her children. In their golden years, she and Daryl traveled the world with family and friends.

Professionally and socially, Joan was a self-described joiner. She had a distinguished career as an elementary school teacher in Rochelle. Rockford, and Loves Park IL, finishing with a long tenure in the Harlem School District. She was passionate about teaching children, so that they could live their best lives, and about mentoring newer teachers as they launched their careers. For many years after retiring, Joan continued working as teacher evaluator and helping to select the annual recipients of Rockford’s Golden Apple Awards. She was a lifetime member of the Rockford YMCA (“the Y”), longtime member of the Rockford Women’s Club, and an avid participant in her winter bridge club and summer tennis group. She was active in her parish, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and a regular volunteer in support of less fortunate people.

Joan will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. She is now a part of us, as we remember her.

Join us for a memorial luncheon at The Lombardi Club on Saturday, December 30, 2023 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. 209 Olive Street, Rockford, IL 61107.