July 14, 1924 – July 25, 2010

Joan Mae Staven, a devoted wife, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and loving and compassionate friend, passed away Sunday, July 25, 2010, peacefully after a sudden turn of events during her ovarian cancer treatment.

Joan was born in Waukesha on July 14, 1924, to Hugo and Julia Deil. She graduated from Waukesha High School in 1943. She worked as an instructor at Patricia Stevens Modeling School in Milwaukee, and enjoyed modeling in both Wisconsin and in Arizona throughout her life. She also worked in the Carroll College business office in Waukesha, where she met and married her husband of 62 years, Ralph R. Staven, on Jan. 10, 1948.

In Waukesha, Joan was an active member of the Junior Women’s Club, Women’s Club and Waukesha Service Club. In Arizona, she was an active member of Creative Women of Pinnacle Peak, the Red Hat Ladies and the Thomas J. Pappas School for the homeless children.

Joan loved playing cards and mahjong, and she enjoyed many years of golfing with the "Niners."

Joan is survived by her sons, Mark (Renee), Gary (Jean), David of Wisconsin, and her daughter, Mary Beth (Stephen) Canham of Arizona. She was a loving grandmother to five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Joan devoted her life to her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 29, at Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. A private luncheon will follow at Pinnacle Peak Country Club.

The family requests donations in Joan’s memory to Hospice of the Valley Sherman House, 5801 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054-4503; or The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Arizona (OCAZ), 7927 E. Las Piedras Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85266.

Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 480-502-3378, is serving the family.