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Obituary for Joan Giffen
FARRAGUT – Joan Meyer Giffen passed away peacefully with her family at her side and holding her hand on June 4, 2023 at Tennova in Turkey Creek after having suffered a massive heart attack and a significant stroke.
Joanie was born on November 3, 1942, in Elizabethton, TN, to John Albert Meyer and Mary Newberry Meyer.
Joanie graduated in 1961 from Batavia High School in Batavia, NY as the salutatorian of her class.
Joanie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in psychology. At UT she was President of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
While at UT, Joanie met her husband of 57 years, Jim. They were married on September 4, 1965, and she worked as a social worker at the Knox County Juvenile Court while Jim finished his last two years of law school.
Joanie became a full-time mother and homemaker when Eric was born in 1967. Greg was born in 1970. Her life was devoted to being the consummate wife, mother and grandmother. She was affectionately known to her sons’ generation as Momma Gif and to her grandchildren’s generation as Nana.
Joanie never cared much about sports until she had two sons and they started growing up. She was an avid fan of all their sports, UT sports and the Atlanta Braves. We had season UT football and basketball tickets for over 50 years.
She served in many volunteer roles in the community. Among several roles she played for the Dogwood Arts Festival, she was best known for years as the “Bus Lady” for the free Dogwood Arts Festival bus tours from Market Square that she organized and conducted. She worked for many years for the Special Olympics, the Symphony League and Akima Club. She was a Chancellor’s Associate while Bill Snyder was the UT Knoxville Chancellor. For many years before her 2007 stroke, she was the Chairman of the Town of Farragut Arts Council.
Music was always very important in Joanie’s life. One of her fondest memories was singing for Mr. Owen in the Batavia High Choristers whose Christmas Concert was broadcast around the world on the Armed Forces Network. At UT, she was proud to have sung with the UT Singers. Before her stroke in 2007, she had enjoyed many years of singing in the choir at Second Presbyterian Church.
We are grateful for the more than 15 years of borrowed time we have had with Joanie since her 2007 stroke. That was 15 great years - more than 20 national parks and monuments with our granddaughter, Greer; dozens of plays, concerts and picnics in the mountains; and being in Thompson Boling Arena for several seasons of UT Basketball.
Joanie was preceded in death by her parents, John Albert Meyer and Mary Newberry Meyer, and by Jim’s parents, Lowell Lorimer Giffen and Mary James Giffen. She is survived by her husband, James Kelly Giffen; son, James Eric Giffen; son, John Gregory Giffen, and his wife, Carrie Kline Giffen; granddaughter, Emilee Greer Giffen; step-grandchildren, Reid Hartsell, Jackson Vingelen and Luke Vingelen; sister Molly Meyer Davis and husband, John Davis; niece, Marissa Davis; nephew, John Davis, Jr.; and sister-in-law, Polly Giffen.
An event is being planned, to be announced later, for family and friends to celebrate Joanie’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Joanie’s memory to the Knoxville Symphony Society, P.O. Box 360, Knoxville, TN 37901.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate Joanie’s life from 5:00 – 8:00 pm (remarks at 7:00 pm when anyone, who desires to do so, will have an opportunity to offer a toast to celebrate Joanie’s life) on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at the Zimmer Pavilion on Watts Bar Lake, at 499 Roberson Lane, Loudon, TN 37774. IMPORTANT: Do not put 499 Roberson Lane in your GPS. Put Windy Hill Farm in your GPS. Follow signs to Windy Hill Farm if they conflict with your GPS. Follow signs to Zimmer if they conflict with signs to Windy Hill Farm. Do not turn into the Windy Hill Farm entrance. Continue on the paved road past Windy Hill Farm. The 499 Roberson Lane driveway for the Zimmer Pavilion is a gravel driveway, on your left, about 200 feet past the Windy Hill Farm entrance. When you are in front of the house, bear left leaving the gravel driveway, and drive to the left side of the house through the field to the lake. Summer casual dress.
Online condolences may be made at rosefuneraltn.com
I am so sorry to learn of Joan's passing. I only have positive memories of this lovely classmate. I think her family moved to Batavia when we were teens. Am I right? God Bless Joan's spouse and family. Sandy Sterling Weiler
I had some fun experiences with Joan. She was a lot of good things! I used to caddie for her Mother at Regional Women's Golf Tournaments. She was a bigger than life personality and quite fun. Her Dad was a Civil Engineer and worked for DeWitt, I believe. He engineered the building of the irrigation pond at Stafford CC.
I would have liked to have seen her again, but she never made a Reunion because of the stroke. Rest well!
I am very sorry to hear of Joan's death. We were close friends in high school. I remember well paddling a canoe with Joan around the shore of Silver Lake one summer at Y camp singing "que sera, sera" ala Doris Day. The canoe was leaking and we took it in turn to paddle and bail. Health and safety may not have been as high on the agenda in those days.
Joan was a dear friend during school hours and after school activities. I was always sad that we lost touch. I recently looked up her bio info and saw he lived in the Knoxville area. I planned to try to see her the next time I visited my brother who also lives in the Knoxville area. Unfortunately that opportunity has passed.
Wishing peace for her family during this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of her passing. Joan was a good friend, neighbor and classmate. "What a smile." My sincere sympathy to her family and friends. God bless.
Sandra Sterling (Weiler)
I am so sorry to learn of Joan's passing. I only have positive memories of this lovely classmate. I think her family moved to Batavia when we were teens. Am I right? God Bless Joan's spouse and family. Sandy Sterling Weiler
John Herridge
I had some fun experiences with Joan. She was a lot of good things! I used to caddie for her Mother at Regional Women's Golf Tournaments. She was a bigger than life personality and quite fun. Her Dad was a Civil Engineer and worked for DeWitt, I believe. He engineered the building of the irrigation pond at Stafford CC.
I would have liked to have seen her again, but she never made a Reunion because of the stroke. Rest well!
Harriet Osborn (Martin)
I am very sorry to hear of Joan's death. We were close friends in high school. I remember well paddling a canoe with Joan around the shore of Silver Lake one summer at Y camp singing "que sera, sera" ala Doris Day. The canoe was leaking and we took it in turn to paddle and bail. Health and safety may not have been as high on the agenda in those days.
Judy Johnson (Pagliarulo)
Joan was a dear friend during school hours and after school activities. I was always sad that we lost touch. I recently looked up her bio info and saw he lived in the Knoxville area. I planned to try to see her the next time I visited my brother who also lives in the Knoxville area. Unfortunately that opportunity has passed.
Wishing peace for her family during this difficult time.
George Kenoyer
So sorry to hear of her passing. Joan was a good friend, neighbor and classmate. "What a smile." My sincere sympathy to her family and friends. God bless.