Joanne Elizabeth Mayes of Rochelle, Illinois, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the age of 87 in Oregon, Illinois. She was born on June 15, 1939, in Portland, Oregon, to parents Orvell and Edna (Oakley) Mayes. In February of 1941, her brother Gerald Lee joined the family. When Joanne was two, the family moved to the area in and around Beloit, Kansas, where her mother had been born and raised. Six years later the family moved again, this time east to the area around Hillsdale and Spring Hill, Kansas, where her father had been born and raised.

She graduated from Spring Hill High School in 1957 and from Park College in Parkville, Missouri, in 1961. That fall she began her career in teaching in Rochelle, Illinois. She taught there three years before taking a year off to get her master’s degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

The next two years she spent teaching in the United States Peace Corps on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. Upon her return, she taught one year at Rochelle Junior High School and the remainder of her career in Rochelle Township High School’s English Department.

Over the years and for varying lengths of time, she served as chair of the English Department, supervised the yearbook production, worked with student teachers and foreign students, served various offices in the teachers’ I.E.A. and N.E.A. organizations and helped negotiate salaries with the school board. She served on various committees and was placed in charge of bringing back the National Honor Society.

After a study tour to Greece and Turkey in 1972 she developed a love for travel and later enjoyed trips to Scandinavia, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Northern Italy.

Joanne was an active member at First Presbyterian Church of Rochelle since 1967, serving over the years on the Board of Trustees, and as an elder and deacon. She also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Joanne is survived by cousins in Kansas, and will be greatly missed by her First Presbyterian Church family.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Gerald.

Special thanks to her hospice caregivers, Patti and Melissa, and the staff at Serenity Hospice and Home, who took such good care of Joanne. Also, thanks to her compassionate nurses, Emmi, Michele and Yamile at Liberty Village.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, September 25, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Calvin Road, Rochelle with Tessa Stouffer officiating. Burial will be at Spring Hill Cemetery in Spring Hill, Kansas. Memorials may be made in Joanne's memory to First Presbyterian Church or to Serenity Hospice and Home, 1658 S. IL Rte. 2, Oregon, IL 61061.

The online guest book may be signed at ungerhorner.com.