Roberta "Joan" Rubenacker

Maggie Valley, Roberta "Joan" (Mitchell) Rubenacker, 82 years old, was serenaded by angels up to God’s throne as she passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, November 21, 2019, in Maggie Valley. She had long standing health challenges to which she never complained and fought like a warrior. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends.

Joan was born in Enfield, IL, May 20, 1937 and lived in the farmlands of Southern Illinois with her parents and three brothers.  After high school, she became a secretary and worked for Farm Bureau Insurance which took her to Chicago, IL, where she worked until her marriage to James William Rubenacker on September 5, 1960.  After raising 2 daughters, she worked at Pepperidge Farm Bakery in Downers Grove, IL, where she retired in 1987.  Joan and her husband retired to Maggie Valley, NC, which they both always referred to as "God’s Country."  She was extremely faithful to our Lord, outgoing, friendly, helpful, compassionate, loved to travel, had a big heart that could lighten up any gloomy day and never met a stranger.  She offered hugs freely always stating, "A hug makes a whole day!" Joan was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  The true sparkle in her eyes was her 5 grandsons and 1 great granddaughter that she whole-heartedly loved and bragged about whenever she had the chance.

She is preceded in death by her parents Robert (Bob) L. Mitchell and Bertha (Belva) Mitchell Skelton, brother Kenneth Mitchell and husband of 47 years James Rubenacker (November 14, 2007).

She is survived by her two daughters: Donna Caldwell (Gary) of Waynesville, NC, and Karla Floor (Tim) of Scottsdale, AZ; two brothers: Clarence Mitchell (Arlene) of Normal, IL, Carl Mitchell (Margie) of Carbondale, IL; sister-in-law: FloAnn Mitchell of McLeansboro, IL; 5 grandsons: Karl (Brooke) Adams of Charlotte, NC, Kevin Adams US Navy, San Diego, CA, Kyle Adams USAF, Seoul, Korea, Brandon Floor of Scottsdale, AZ and Nicholas Floor of Scottsdale, AZ; one great-granddaughter: Oakley of Charlotte, NC, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church in Maggie Valley with Father Christopher Bond officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Mausoleum in Waynesville, NC. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, November 29th at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville, NC.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The care of Joan has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.