Joan Sturdy from Rochester passed away at Carriage Crossing on May 31, 2026 at the age of 94.

Joan was born on January 26, 1932 in Pleasant Plains, the daughter of John Edney and Hallie Duff Davis. Joan was the youngest of 9 from the Davis family, preceded in death by Francis, Elmer, Jim, Don, Elsie, Helen May, Carroll and Lorena.

Joan Davis was a 1949 graduate of Rochester High School. She then married Meryl Sturdy in 1951 and they were married until his passing in 2012. They made a home on the farm, raising their 4 children there.

Joan was always working in addition to being a homemaker and farmer’s wife. She was the original female entrepreneur. She ran the Jo’s Apparel clothing store in Rochester, was the manager at MC Sporting Goods, managed H & R Block, but may have had her most fun as the proprietor of the Rochester Tax Service. She would spend each spring listening to stories from her clients and providing more than just a tax service, but also a listening service and plenty of advice.

Joan’s favorite pastime was watching her children and grandchildren play sports and she attended as many activities as she could. She made sure that every official knew who she was and which one of the players was ‘hers’.

Joan is survived by her children, Diane (husband Dean) Gravlin of Morton, David(wife Penny) of Rochester, Mark of Rochester and Brad (Wife Tamara) of Dawson, and two stepdaughters, Janet Orr and Carol Gensler. She also has 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Joan also served on the Rochester School Board for 9 years and was an advocate for education. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Rochester Education Foundation in her name.

The visitation and funeral will be at Wilson Park Funeral home in Rochester on Thursday, June 4th from 4PM to 7PM and the Funeral will be on Friday, June 5th at 11AM.