Joan M. Porten

Joan M. (Meyer) Porten of Plainfield, IN met Jesus on July 25, 2021, at age 84.

Joan was born on June 15, 1937, to Leonard J. and Irene (Wingham) Meyer in Napoleon, IN. She grew up in a small town and was the only sister to four brothers. She graduated from Delaware-Jackson Township High School Class of 1955 where she enjoyed 4H, cheerleading, being Class President from Junior to Senior year while rockin’ red lipstick and bangs of the ’50s. In 1953, Joan Meyer won the title of Ripley County Pumpkin Show Queen and was presented with a Gruen watch from Gannon Jewelry Store in Greensburg, IN which she still cherished.

After graduating high school in 1955, Joan attended St Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Indianapolis, IN.  After her graduation in September of 1958, Joan continued to give loving care to patients at St Vincent Hospital until she and some of her nursing friends decided to venture out to Denver, Colorado in the cold month of February 1959.  She only lived in Colorado for about a year then returned to Indiana to work as a Registered Nurse for Methodist Hospital until her retirement in 1999.  She also worked as a private nurse from 1986 through 2009.  Although Joan retired from her professional life, her passion for caring never ended.

Joan loved adventures.  Coming from the small town of Napoleon, IN moving to Indianapolis then all the way out west to Denver, Colorado fueled Joan’s love for travel.  She enjoyed nature, birds, and visiting state and national parks with family and friends.  She also loved vacationing in the southwest spending time in places like Durango, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona where she may have traveled south of the border.  Her love of travel didn’t end in the States.  She also traveled to Ireland, Scotland, England, Paris, and Germany where she attended the once-a-decade performance of the Passion Play in the Bavarian Alps, of Oberammergau, Germany.

Some of Joan’s favorite hobbies include spending time with family, reading, gardening, singing in the church choir, Opera,  Ave Maria Guild, Tuesday with Friends, and volunteer work for the Red Cross.

Joan was predeceased by Leonard and Irene Meyer; son Mark Porten; brothers Donald Meyer (Carrie) and Jerome Meyer; nephew Michael Meyer. She is survived by her children Beth (Michael Hines) Porten-Hines and David (Michelle Keaton) Porten; grandchildren Maria Hines and Sean Porten; brothers Richard (Janet) Meyer and Bruce (Janice) Meyer; sister in law Joan Meyer of Tucson, AZ; niece-in-law, Shirley Meyer, and many cherished nieces and nephews.

She dedicated her life to Jesus and was a member of St. Susanna Catholic Church where the funeral Mass will be held Saturday, August 07, 2021, at 11 am with calling one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at 3 pm in Napoleon Catholic Cemetery in Napoleon, IN.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of her favorite charities: Red Cross, Salvation Army, or American Cancer Society.