Joan Lake

Joan Pier Lake, formerly of Potosi, Missouri, departed this life on April 28, 2009 at the Farmington Presbyterian Manor having reached the age of 89 years, eleven months and seven days. She was born on May 21, 1919 in Newark, New Jersey, a daughter to the late Harry M. Pier, who was a pioneer in environmentally sound industry and was given a Times Magazine cover, and Helen Marie Faber Du Faur Pier of Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Mrs. Lake attended high school in Highland Park, Illinois and earned her Bachelors degree in French and Romance Languages from De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

Among Mrs. Lake?s many accomplishments were her years of teaching French and Spanish at Potosi High School and Mineral Area College, serving as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, Board Member for the Presbyterian Manor, Board Member of the
American Lung Association and supporting member of En Avants Womans Service Club.

Mrs. Lake was an avid and talented bridge player. She loved to travel and enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and many vacations in Europe, Scandanavia, Africa and South America, and she had a special interest in talking with people she met in her travels. She loved her cats, her children, grandchildren and spent many hours at their sports events, school and summer activities.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. E.W. Lake D.O, a founding physician of the Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, then known as Mineral Area Osteopathic Hospital; a daughter Barbara Hochstatter; and a great-granddaughter Charli Anna Merseal, for whom the Charli Anna Foundation is named.

Those who remain to mourn the passing of her life are one son Dr. E.W. Lake D.D.S and wife Mary of Potosi, MO; two daughters Marcia Lake of Columbia, MO and Christine Nickelson and husband Gary of St. Louis, MO; six grandchildren Niki, Heather Stephanie, Kara, Peter and Teddy; eleven great-grandchildren Jennifer, Danny, Whitney, Wyatt, Taryn, Lauryn, Carter, Jack, Emily, Brianna and Brayden; one great-great-grandchild; one brother Arthur Pier and wife Theresa of Webster Groves, MO; sister in law Betty Lake of Jackson, Missouri and many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral Services were conducted on Friday, May 1, 2009, at 10 AM at the Potosi United Methodist Church with Rev. Leonard Compton officiating.

Interment and final prayers were held at the New Masonic Cemetery. All arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the DeClue Family Funeral Home.

Her family has designated the Charli Anna Foundation (P.O. Box 605, Potosi, MO 63664) for those who wish to give donations in memory of Mrs. Lake.