Joan Alberta (Lipka) Prather died peacefully surrounded by her family on March 8, 2025, one week shy of her 89th birthday. Joan was born March 14, 1936, to Paul and Adeline Lipka in LaSalle, Illinois. Joan grew up in a close-knit, loving family, which included one older brother Paul Junior, whom she adored. Joan attended schools in LaSalle and she was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical and Reformed Church where her family was actively involved. Joan graduated LaSalle-Peru Township High School in 1953 and she entered Illinois State University-Normal to pursue a degree in education. Joan completed her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science in 1957, and a master’s degree from National Lewis University in 1990. 
Because Joan was an outgoing, fun college coed at ISU, she attracted many suitors and more than one marriage proposal. However, one very special suitor won her heart. Joan first met Tom Prather on a warm sunny day when she and her girlfriends dropped into the air-conditioned shoe store in downtown Bloomington, IL. Tom, who was the shoe clerk, was immediately smitten with Joan! While Joan was a bit unsure about Tom when he first asked her out, it wasn’t long before Tom won her love and affection—forever. The two were married August 10, 1957. 
As newlyweds, Tom and Joan began their teaching careers together, including positions in McLean and Waynesville, IL where they built a house on a small farm outside Waynesville, (house stands today and remains in great shape) before settling in Cary, Illinois where Tom accepted an assistant principal position. Joan taught Home Economics at Crystal Lake Central High School for many years and continued there until her retirement. During her tenure, Joan taught important life skills including cooking, clothing design, child development, healthy teen living and consumer education to countless students, and she eventually served as Head of the Department. Joan particularly enjoyed the wedding simulation unit she planned with her students each spring. Joan’s most significant and lasting contribution to the Home Economics Department was to establish a pre-school program at the high school, the first in the state, led and taught by students who were studying child development. Joan’s preschool program was featured in the Chicago Tribune and the preschool continues to this day. 
Joan and Tom have five sons: Tim, Keven, Brian, Eric and Brent. As a dual career couple with five boys to raise, Joan and Tom forged a true loving partnership in running their busy household. Together they supported each of their sons’ educational pursuits and interests in music and sports, as well as being supportive of each other’s careers. Joan and Tom also made sure their sons had a meaningful connection to Cary United Methodist Church where each of their sons was confirmed. While stories abound from those years raising five sons, most noteworthy are the 5-week, cross-country summer road trips Joan and Tom took with the five boys in tow, camping along the way in their pop-up tent trailer. All total they visited 47 states, as well as numerous landmarks and tourist destinations, and they created lasting memories for the whole family, which they continue to talk about to this day. 
Joan was committed to her Christian faith her whole life. She was an active member of the Cary United Methodist Church for over 50 years until her recent declining health. Joan served in the Stephen Ministry, and Joan and Tom regularly provided hospitality after weekly worship services. In the 1980s, Joan and Tom served together in the Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol, which included one memorable trip on an Airforce refueling tanker to the Arctic Circle and back. Joan was a talented seamstress and wonderful cook, and she was an exceptional hostess of dinner parties and family gatherings. One could sit around Joan’s dinner table and feel welcome and loved. Joan especially enjoyed recalling fun family stories, and she was known to get into giggling fits that were contagious! She loved playing cards, and she would keep her family up into the wee hours of the night to play hearts and spades. Joan was a proficient Bridge player, and she was regularly banned from playing online Bridge when other players thought she was a computer. 
Joan and Tom welcomed five daughters-in-law into the family, as well as thirteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren (so far). She and Tom enjoyed camping, attending the grandchildren’s sports events, and many visits to see their children and grandchildren in Alaska, California, Idaho, and Ohio. During their retirement, Joan and Tom traveled abroad and took extended trips to Florida in their 5th wheel RV to spend time with friends. Joan’s life was filled with love for her family, and she cherished many friendships throughout her life. Joan will be greatly missed.
Joan is survived by her sons Tim (Rose), Keven (Cathy), Eric (Sara), Brent (Karyn), and daughter-in-law Laura (Brian); her grandchildren: Tristan, Ian (Katie), Mason, Alexander, Alyssa (Matt), Amanda (Joel), Wyatt, Sam (Jesi), Jack, Nicholas, Noah, Emma and Madeline; and her great grandchildren Sophia, Oliver, Adeline, and Evelyn. Joan is preceded in death by her beloved husband Tom of 66 years, her parents, her brother Paul and sister-in-law Evie, and her son Brian. A visitation will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 9:00 to 11:00 am, followed by an 11:00 am Joint Memorial Service to celebrate the lives of Joan and Tom Prather at Cary United Methodist Church. A private Committal Burial Service will be at 1:00 pm. Memorial gifts can be given to: Cary United Methodist Church (www.caryumc.org) or breast cancer research (www.komen.org).