Elizabeth Joan Bondhus was born on June 7, 1931, in Akron, Colorado. Joan was the fourth child of Ezra and Helen Alishouse. She grew up on the family farm located Southeast of Akron. Joan attended Kindergarten and grade school in Akron while staying with her Grandmother Deno and returning to the farm on weekends and during the summer. She attended Akron High School and graduated in 1949 as Valedictorian of her class. Following her graduation from high school, she attended Colorado State University for one semester.

On June 18, 1950, she was united in marriage to Norwood C. "Woodie" Bondhus at the United Methodist Church of Akron. They were blessed with two daughters, Patricia Ann and Cynthia Jo. Joan and Woodie celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on June 18, 2010, with family and friends.

After returning to Akron in 1950, Joan began working as a sales clerk at the Dime Store owned by Hank Prince. After the birth of her first child, she became a full time homemaker. In 1957, Woodie and Joan started their own business, Skogmos Department Store. In 1969, they opened a second Skogmos Department Store in Yuma, Colorado, which they operated until 1973, when they purchased Carl and Dale's Men's Store in Akron, changing the name to Woodie's Men's Wear. They later sold the men's store to their son-in-law and daughter, Darrel and Patty Adolf. Joan enjoyed decorating the store for the seasons of the year and various holidays, especially for Christmas. After operating their store for thirty-seven years, they closed the department store in 1995. During their years managing the store, Joan divided her time between the store and caring for her children.

An enjoyable part of running their store was attending the annual merchandise mart in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Joan loved selecting the fashions for the upcoming seasons. Joan and Woodie became close friends with many of the owners of Skogmos stores in Colorado and the Midwest. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii, California, the Gulf Coast and many cities along the East Coast. Joan and Woodie spent many relaxing weekends at the Alishouse Cabin in Idaho Springs with friends and family.

Joan was a member of the United Methodist Church of Akron until her marriage to Woodie, when she joined Trinity Lutheran Church. She was an active member of the church, and loved teaching Sunday School and Bible School. She enjoyed being a part of the TLC Ladies Aid, holding many offices and contributing baked goods and crafts for the annual church bazaar.  She was especially known for her delicious pecan pies.

Joan was an active member of the Alpha Nu Sorority in Akron for over fifty years.

In her free time, Joan loved to read books and did beautiful handiwork, including cross-stitch, crochet and crewel embroidery. She also enjoyed sewing and various crafts. Patty and Cindy were often seen in matching outfits made by Joan, at least until they were old enough to gently tell her "no more." Once her vision began failing at the age of seventy-five, she had to give up most of her hobbies, but was able to enjoy audio books.

Joan especially enjoyed being a part of her grandchildren's lives as they grew to adulthood in Akron.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Cindy Hoyer, and husband, Kevin, of Akron, Colorado, and son-in-law, Darrel Adolf, of Greeley, Colorado; her four grandchildren, Nathan Adolf, and wife, Jodi, of Kansas City, Missouri, Nikki Medeles, and husband, Arn, of Evans, Colorado, Brodie Hoyer, and wife, Leeah, of West Point, New York, and Thea Hoyer of Fort Collins, Colorado. She will also be mourned by her five great-grandchildren, Ragan Medeles, Lorna, Viggo and Mac Hoyer and Jett Moeller, and a great number of relatives and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-three years, Woodie, daughter, Patty Adolf, parents, Ezra and Helen Alishouse, brothers, Harold Alishouse and Edward Alishouse, sister, Minetta Jane Foutz, brothers-in-law, Merlin Bondhus, Everett Bondhus and Lyle Foutz, sisters-in-law, June Bondhus, Christine Bondhus and Avis Alishouse and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on January 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard von Steinman officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Nathan Adolf, Arn Medeles, Brodie Hoyer, John Bondhus, Mike Bondhus and Barney Filla. Honorary pallbearers were Darrel Adolf and Kevin Hoyer. Internment will follow at the Akron Cemetery under the direction of Bowin Funeral Home.

Memorial donations in Joan's memory may be made to the Washington County Nursing Home or Akron Public Library.