Joan Rankin-Aykens

Joan Rankin-Aykens, 87, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, passed away Friday, January 12, 2024, at her home with her family by her side. She was born on Wednesday, September 2, 1936, to the late Marucs M. and Marion E. Curto.

Joan attended Michigan State University in 1956 where earned a degree in Secretarial, and later worked as an Optometry Associate. In attending college at Michigan State, she met the love of her life, Dan, whom she married in 1956 and started the life she dreamed of with her prince charming. She also met some of her best friends at Michigan State who became an important part of her life, and she treasured those friendships for decades.

Joan loved playing golf, crocheting, and making jewelry, but one of her most favorite hobbies was being an enthusiastic and devoted Amazon & Wish shopper! They both will miss her! She had a zest for life and her family. She was passionate about her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them all. Joan was devoted to her friends from high school and college, her dedication to her all her friendships were very important to her; her contact list on her phone showed that.

Living in the Village were some of her happiest times of her life, she was always eager to meet up with friends to go eat, play golf and have a lot of great friends.

We want to thank all her friends far and near that loved her and visited her over the last year, it meant more than you will ever know.

St. Anthony was very important to her, she prayed to him daily.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Marcus (1971) and Marion (1999) Curto; first husband of 50 years, Daniel G. Rankin (2007) and her late husband Richard A. Aykens (2022); grandson, Daniel P. Rankin (2012) and sister, Nancy A. Ravasz (2006).

Joan is survived by her daughter, Cathy (Mike) Riley of Mukwonago, Wisconsin; sons, Pat (Mary) Rankin of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas and Dan (Kim) Rankin of Dallas, Texas. Grandchildren, Sarah (Cody) Kanable of Brodhead, Wisconsin, Mary (Kevin) Zupan of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Emily (Nathan) Mourik of Dallas, Texas; Great-Grandchildren, Lucy Zupan, Chase Kanable, Hallie Kanable and Brayden Mourik.

Visitation will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hot Springs Village Friday, January 19th at 1:00pm with services starting at 2:00pm.

Interment will be Monday, January 22nd at 11:00am at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas.

Arrangements were made under the direction of CedarVale Funeral Home in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Guest may register at www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com