Joan Elaine Parnell, 87, of Effingham, KS died on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 pm on Monday, March 28th, 2022, at the Becker Chapel, 402 3rd St, Effingham, KS. The family will receive friends from 1:30 pm on Monday until time of service at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at the Evergreen Cemetery, Effingham, KS. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Atchison Humane Society or the NEK Hospice and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Joan was born on January 31, 1935 in Blue Hill, NE the daughter of Frank R. and Lena L.(Schmidt) Lukas. She graduated from Blue Hill High School. She worked as a clerk for the ASCS office in Effingham, as a Post Office Rural Route Carrier, and for the US Navy Department Ammunitions Plant in Grand Island, NE. She was married to Gene Parnell on October 3, 1954, in Rosemount, NE. They moved from Effingham, KS in 1997 to Mountain Home, AR. Following Gene’s death Joan returned to Effingham in April 2012 and lived with her daughter Patty. Joan enjoyed playing music on the accordion, piano and organ, embroidery, watching her great grandchildren play ball and attending to her little animals.

She is survived by a son David (Debbie) Parnell, Effingham, KS daughter Patty Parnell, Effingham, KS, grandchildren Jason Parnell, Russellville, MO and Trent Parnell, Effingham, KS great grandchildren Kennedy Parnell, Wamego, KS, Karlie (Jaden) Lee, Atchison, KS, and Kallie Parnell, Maple Hill, KS. Her parents, husband, and sister Roberta Turner preceded her in death.