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Joan I. Pyle-Wilson

1934 — 2019

Joan Pyle-Wilson joined the Heavenly Choir on Jan. 10, 2019, in Hayden Lake, Idaho. Joan was born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Isabelle Warren Lahaie and Eli Lahaie, with a twin brother, Jerry, in 1934, joining sisters Betty and Dona.

The Lahaie family moved from St. Maries, Idaho, to Coeur d’Alene on a St. Joe riverboat prior to Joan’s birth. Joan and Jerry attended a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade on the Rathdrum Prairie. Joan attended high school in Rathdrum, but graduated from Coeur d’Alene High in 1952. She then attended Gonzaga University and remained a true Bulldog fan. Joan loved basketball and played through school and after. She married Neil Pyle after meeting him at the Ivalee Dance Hall in 1955.

Joan inherited her love of music from her family and carried that on to her daughters, taking them to dance lessons, baton twirling and teaching them to sing. As the girls grew older, activities included piano lessons, sewing and cooking. She had lunch and home-cooked meals on the table, including fresh-baked bread, upon Neil’s arrival from work at Tapley Cabinet Works. Joan was a 4-H leader as well as an instructor in religious education at St. Pius X Catholic Church. She volunteered with the Hospital Axillary and in later years, Hospice. Her employment included secretarial work and managing the North Idaho College Bookstore until her retirement in 1993.

Upon retirement, Joan and Neil moved from Coeur d’Alene to Twin Lakes, Idaho. Joan loved entertaining friends, nieces, nephews and their families at the “Pyle Inn” at “The Lake.” Joan became active in the 3Cs (Cancer and Community Charities) Choir as a singer and wrote the choir’s theme song, “The Ladies of the Choir.” She enjoyed arts and crafts classes at NIC and made gifts for family and friends. She participated in college and community musical productions and thoroughly enjoyed wearing the hat of a “Pick-a-Little Lady” and many other characters.

Joan became reacquainted with George Roger Wilson at their 50th class reunion and they married in 2004. They enjoyed traveling in their motorhome. In 2006 Joan had a stroke, and Roger was her devoted caretaker from then on. She spent her last year at Honeysuckle Place, where she continued to share her love of music with the staff and residents. She treasured visits from friends and dedicated nieces and nephews.

Joan is preceded in death by her mother and father; siblings, Jerry and Betty; husband, Neil and grandson, James Wolf. Joan and Roger also lost Roger’s daughter, Johnna, in 2009.

Joan is survived by her husband, George Roger Wilson; sister, Dona (John) Marshall of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter, Christine (Bob) Wolf of Scottsbluff, Neb., and their children, David, Elli Jo and Rachael; daughter, Beverly (Louis) Schumacher of Boise, Idaho, and their children, Sheila, Adam and James; and daughter, Shirley (Quinn) Van Paepeghem of Meridian, Idaho and their children, Jake and Mallory. Joan also has 10 great-grandchildren; stepson, Sam Wilson and Dan Stern of Seattle, Wash.; stepdaughter, Megan (Steve) Field of Helena, Mont. and their son, Lee; and stepson, Emery (Mary) Wilson of Portland.

There will be a Rosary at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. A memorial Mass will follow the Rosary at 11 a.m. and inurnment service at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Cemetery, S. 23rd Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Memorials can be sent to the NIC Foundation in the name of the Joan Pyle-Wilson Memorial Scholarship (music scholarship) or to 3Cs of Coeur d’Alene.

The family thanks the staff of Honeysuckle Place and Hospice of North Idaho for their compassionate care. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Please visit Joan’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com