Joanne Hutchcraft

Joanne Rose Hutchcraft, 88, of Urbana, passed away at 10:40 a.m., Christmas Day, December 25, 2018 at LeRoy Manor in LeRoy, Illinois.

Visitation will be held Thursday, December 27th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Renner Wikoff Chapel & Crematory, 1900 Philo Rd., Urbana.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 28th at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory. Mrs. Hutchcraft will be entombed at Mt. Hope Mausoleum in a private family ceremony.

Joanne was born February 4, 1930 in Urbana, Illinois.  She was the only child of Joseph C. and Pauline (DuVall) Sansone.  She attended St. Mary’s School and Champaign High School where she participated in girls’ basketball and cheerleading.  She married Orin C. Hutchcraft on August 16, 1948 in Champaign; he preceded her in death in 1996.

Joanne is survived by her daughter, Debra (Daniel) Franklin, of LeRoy, and her son, Orin J. (Kathy) Hutchcraft, of St. Joseph.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jason (Amy) Franklin, of Mahomet, Matthew (Lori) Franklin, of LeRoy, Rachel (Darrin) Smith, of LeRoy, Natalie (Dave) Isaacson, of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and Orin M. (Taylor) Hutchcraft, of Stanford.  She was also survived by 19 great-grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known as “GiGi”. 

Joanne had worked with her husband and brother-in-law’s moving business, Hutchcraft Van Service, from 1962 until her retirement in 1988.  She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. 

Joanne was an avid bowler.  She bowled on the Hutchcraft sponsored team in the Western Fillies League during the 1960’s and 70’s.  She and her husband were both square dancers in the Boots ‘n Bows Square Dance Club during the 1960’s. Joanne loved to sew, sewing many of her ruffled square dance dresses, and later, “Goose Clothing”.   Joanne resumed her love for bowling and square dancing well into her retirement years.   She also participated in the University of Illinois Lifetime Fitness Program well into her 80’s.  She also loved music, especially swing music, with Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll” as her favorite song.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Bible Church of Urbana or the American Heart Association.  Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.

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