Joann T. Hower, age 85, a longtime resident of Champaign, IL, recently of Glen Ellyn, IL, died Sunday, May 14, 2017.  She was born June 12, 1931 in Jackson, MS to William T. and Josephine (Allen) Therrell.

Traveling with her father's USCGS survey team, Joann grew up in Forest, MS; Greenbelt, MD; the Panama Canal Zone and other places. She graduated from Canal Zone Jr. College where she met her future husband, John Hower Jr.  They were married on September 1, 1950 and lived in a succession of academic communities including Missoula, MT; Shaker Heights, OH; Boston, MA; Paris, France; Washington, D.C., and Champaign, IL.  After the births of her three children, she returned to school and earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in History. Joann worked for the Social Security Administration, then became an administrative assistant in the Math department at the University of Illinois UC.  She retired in 1999 celebrating with friends and family in a private suite at a Chicago Cubs game.

Joann was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.  A lover of the outdoors, she and friends hiked many places including the Grand Canyon.  She enjoyed traveling, needlework and knitting, and was an avid reader.  Book clubs and playing bridge were among her favorite pastimes.

Joann is survived by three children, Mark (Heidi) Hower of Seattle, WA, Brigitt (George) Walker of Mechanicsville, VA, and Gretchen (Paul R. Pudaite) Hower of Glen Ellyn, one granddaughter, Julia Hower of Middlebury, VT, and siblings William Therrell of Gulfport, MS and Nancy (Ron) Smith of Centralia, WA.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.   Private interment will be held at Mt Hope Cemetery & Mausoleum in Champaign, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com . For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027 .