South Bend – Joan N. Balok, 91, passed away at 10:20am on Friday, December 11, 2020 in her home with loving family by her side. Joan was born on April 7, 1929, in Niles, Michigan to the late Emmett and Laura Pearl (Hartman) Snyder. 

On April 2, 1949, after a two-year courtship that began with a blind date, Joan was united in marriage to John Balok in St. Peter’s Evangelical United Church of Christ. They share over 69 years of marriage before John passed away on June 6, 2018. Together they raised five children: Cheryl Wolf (who preceded her in death), Peggy Wechter of South Bend, Laura (John) Minardi of Highlands Ranch, CO, James (Denise) of Allen, TX, and Janet (Michael) Trent of Murray, KY; nine grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. Joan is also survived by her brother Thomas (Gayle) Snyder of Traverse City, Michigan. Her sister, Betty Ames and brothers, Ronald and James Snyder have also preceded her in death.

Joan was a 1947 graduate of Riley High School. As a young girl growing up the middle child in a large loving family and even a larger extended family, Joan found that her passion for talking, her quick wit, and sparkling blue eyes would forever keep her from being lost in the crowd. Those qualities are what led her to the man with whom who would spend over 70 years of her life. Joan and John’s love for one another was blessed with five children, and many grand and great grandchildren that she truly loved. Over the years, she and John enjoyed long drives and road trips, and they travelled regularly. She also developed a passion for shopping and would spend hours with John wondering through antique stores in search of that one item she just had to have, generally in the form of a plate to hang on the wall. Those plates would ultimately end up in every room in the house as a testament to the many trips they took together. Blessed with a quick wit of her own. Joan loved a good joke and long conversations where she enjoyed telling stories and sharing memories of the family’s history and where her contagious laugh could often bring you to tears. Joan was the first to tell you that she lived a good life that she could not have asked for a better man, a better and more caring husband than John, and that she loved and was proud of all of her children. In the end that’s what matters most.

The family would like to make a special acknowledgement to the caregivers of Senior One and The Center for Hospice. Memorial Contributions in Joan’s memory may be made to the Hospice Foundation 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Service will be held 12 noon Tuesday, December 15, 2020 in Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend. Pastor Ben Webb is officiating. Family and friends may visit with the family from 11:30 am till 12 noon prior to the service with burial at Southlawn Cemetery following. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com