M. Joan Fowler

M. Joan Fowler, 88, of Wellsville, Kansas, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at Wellsville Retirement Community. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Joan was born on a farm January 6, 1933, in Blakeman, Kansas, the daughter of Robert and Anna (Kemp) Cathcart. She lived most of her married life in Oberlin, Kansas, moving to Bentonville, Arkansas in 1987. She lived in Stockton, Missouri from 1994 to 2000, when she moved to Ottawa, Kansas where she made her home until moving to Wellsville Retirement Community, Wellsville, Kansas. Joan was united in marriage to William D. Fowler December 28, 1950, at Newton, Kansas. They were happily married for nearly 64 years having four children, Ron, Connie, Jon, and Doug. Joan was a devoted lifelong homemaker and loved being a hard-working farm wife. She also was the owner/operator of Hair Gallery in Oberlin, Kansas from the mid-1970’s to late 1980’s working as a cosmetologist. Joan also owned Jo’s Café in Oberlin for several years and was known for her fabulous cooking. She was a member of the Ottawa Grace Community Church and the Red Hat Society. Joan was very social and loved gathering with friends and family. While living at Wellsville Retirement she enjoyed all the nursing home activities, coloring, painting and especially the friends she made there. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, several brothers and sisters, and grandson, Matthew Rodina. Survivors include four children, Ronald Fowler and wife Sondra of Oberlin, Connie Rodina and husband Ernie of Ottawa, Jon Fowler of Kansas City, Kansas, and Douglas Fowler of Lafayette, Indiana; brother Robert Cathcart and wife Martha of Aiken, South Carolina; ten grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to Wellsville Retirement Community c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.