Joan Wallace Kline Lansu

Joan Wallace Kline Lansu, 94, passed away on Sept. 13, 2018. She was born on June 8, 1924, to Francis “Frank” Wallace and Frances “Fanny” Stowe Wallace.

Joan is survived by one child, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was a religious person who kept a Bible close and read and referred to it often.  Additionally, Joan is a direct descendent of the Wallace Clan of Scotland and was very proud of her ancestry. Joan Wallace grew up in Clovis, NM. Joan was nearly 10 years old when her father purchased a precious metal mine in close proximity to Winston, NM.

Joan and her brother, Richard “Dick” Wallace, were home schooled by their mother, Frances, in a small mining cabin.  After high school, Dick majored in astrophysics. He was a contributor of optics to the Hubble telescope.

Joan was a fine student in school, and when she graduated, she cared for her mother until her mother’s death. Joan became a city bus driver for Clovis with her lifelong friend of 88 years, Beth Nelson.

Joan met and married Willis Carol Kline and they gave birth to Karen, Stephen, Carol and Anita. They settled in Galena, KS, and began raising their family.

Joan Wallace Kline perfected her artistic skills and professional sign painting became her focus. Joan also worked in a clothing factory in Galena, KS. Unfortunately, the seamstresses were never paid for their work! Joan soon adopted as her own the old saying, “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade.” Joan completed an art project that incorporated this saying on it, and she was published.

Willis Kline passed away in 1965, and Joan bought a small FINA convenience service station west of Jasper.  During this time, she married Leo Lansu. They eventually moved to El Dorado Springs. Joan soon met Joyce Bacon, and Joyce became a wonderful friend to Joan. Joan would often remark “Everyone Needs a Joyce in Their Life.” When Joyce would help Joan, Joan would quip, “That’s another star in your crown.”

The major life events of Joan Wallace Kline Lansu, were the loss of Karen Loraine Kline, the loss of Julie Anita Kline Julian, the loss of Carol Sue Kline Norman, and the loss of Khara Allison Julian.  Joan would remark, “No one should have to bear the sorrow from the loss of a child or grandchild during their own lifetime.”

Joan left  remarkable business lettering on store fronts and a full array of professionally executed art endeavors in various media. Joan made a lot of lemonade from the lemons that life handed her. During all of these human losses, delays in her career, disappointments in all of the phases of her life, she maintained her amazing creativity, sense of humor, honesty, loving nature and religious beliefs. Joan will be very well remembered and missed dearly by her family and everyone who knew her.

Memorial services for Joan Lansu will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.