Joan R. “Hotie” Gilpin, 94, died peacefully Monday, November 20, 2023 surrounded by family.
Joan, known to most as “Hotie”, was born February 26, 1929 in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas “Gib” and Olive (Pfeifer) Hotle. She was raised on a farm near Columbus Junction and attended grade school at Frog Pond Country School on Goose Creek near Gladwin, Iowa. Hotie graduated from Columbus Junction High School in 1946. She was a 1951 graduate of the Mercy School of Nursing.
Hotie married William “Bill” Gilpin on February 5, 1951. Bill died on March 3, 2010.
Hotie was a nurse at Mercy Hospital from 1979 to 1993, and later an office nurse for Dr. Kammermeyer. She was passionate about her career in nursing. It was obvious by the way she unselfishly cared for her family, friends and patients.
Hotie was gifted with a beautiful voice. She and her sister Jean, performed in several vocal contests in her younger years. Hotie and her late son Brad were long time members of St. Mary’s choir.
She also assisted Bill at their family business, Gilpin Paint and Glass. Following retirement, Hotie and Bill spent the winter months in Venice, Florida.
Most important to Hotie was her family. And she welcomed everyone with open arms & treated them like family. Hotie instilled in her children the value of hard work, strong morals and to strive to treat others as they would like to be treated. She loved to see her grand dogs and they loved to see her, always spoiling them with more than enough treats. Some of her favorite things were hummingbirds, fresh flowers and the return of robinskis in the spring.
Hotie is survived by her children, Patrick (Sandy) Gilpin and Victoria Gilpin, both of Iowa City, Rebecca “Becki” (Bruce) Milne of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Jay (Staci) Gilpin of Duluth, Minnesota, Jean Gilpin (Todd Gillihan) of Coralville, Elizabeth “Beth” Bernard (Neil Madsen) of Bozeman, Montana; daughter-in-law, Deb Gilpin of Iowa City; nine grandchildren, Alysha (Justin), Meghan, Katie (Kirk), Andrew (Sarah), Abbey (Jess), Nathan, Kenna, Tessa (Bennett), and Koby; great grandchildren, Henry, Julie, June, and Archer.
Hotie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bill; her son Bradley “Brad”; son-in-law, Don Bernard; siblings Thomas (Mildred) Hotle and Jean (Richard) Liebendorfer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church or Briarwood Health Care Center.