Obituary for Joan Slovacek

Joan Catherine Slovacek

April 10, 1929 – October 2, 2022

Joan Catherine Keating Slovacek passed away in Ponca City, Oklahoma on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at the age of 93. Viewing will be Wednesday, October 5, 2022, 10am – 5pm. A Rosary Vigil Service will be held at Trout Funeral Home chapel at 7:00 pm on Wednesday October 5, 2022. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 10:00 am with Father Carson Krittenbrink officiating. A private graveside service will be held later.

Joan was born April 10, 1929, in Ponca City, Oklahoma to James Carroll Keating and Lucille Graham Keating. She was the youngest of four children and was raised on the family farm northwest of Ponca City.

Joan graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Ponca City in 1947 and in her junior year was chosen to attend Girls State Convention held at Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Her first job after high school was with the local telephone company.

On November 29, 1947, Joan married Charles Edward Slovacek at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They enjoyed 58 happy years together until his death in 2006. They were blessed with five children: Julia, Mary, Edward, Elizabeth, and James. Her home was warm and welcoming, always filled with good food, family, and friends as well as her children’s many friends.

Joan taught 4th grade religious education at St. Mary’s for many years and was a mentor at Garfield Elementary School in Ponca City for 13 years. While her children were young, she enjoyed being a homeroom mother and Girl Scout leader. As her children left home and began life on their own, Joan worked outside the home. She was employed at Pathology Associates, First National Bank and was an Election Day precinct worker.

Joan was a member of St. Francis Guild of St. Mary’s Catholic Church for many years and along with her husband, Charles, was a member of the Kay County Chapter of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society. Joan and Charles enjoyed being active at St. Mary’s and often attended the annual Mardi Gras party where she used her creative talents to make their costumes such as Beatniks, saloon girl and gunslinger, hippies and Teutonic damsels and knights. They were honored once as the Mardi Gras King and Queen.

Joan was a lifelong learner and always up for an adventure. She enjoyed camping trips, fishing trips and archaeological digs with Charles and their children and close-knit circle of friends. She traveled to Rome, Florence, Munich, and Ireland where she explored her Irish roots with her siblings. Joan also visited Rouchovany in the Czech Republic, where Charles’ father was born and connected with his relatives still living there.

After retirement, Charles and Joan fulfilled their life-long dream and moved to the Colorado Rockies where they built a log home that became a favorite gathering place for friends and family. In the community of Antonito, Colorado they were very active parishioners of St. Augustine Catholic Church and volunteered in the local schools. Joan made many close friends during her 12 years in the area, returning to Ponca City in 1992 to be near family.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Charles, her brothers Neal and Dean Keating, her sister, Margaret Keating Horinek, and her son-in-law Bill Forbes.

Joan is survived by her children: Julia Soper and husband Paul of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mary Forbes Vap and husband Curtis of Newkirk, Oklahoma, Edward Slovacek and wife Becky of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Elizabeth Glaser and husband Tim of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and James Slovacek and wife Kim of Broomfield, Colorado.

Joan is also survived by a sister-in-law, Betsy Crane of Omaha, NE and grandchildren Heath Forbes, Moira Aingell, Brock Forbes, Colin Forbes, Matthew Glaser, Jennifer Caldwell, Eric Slovacek, Sara Slovacek, Michael Slovacek, Daniel Slovacek, Brian Soper and Allison Soper. Joan is also survived by thirteen great grandchildren: Titan Glaser, Sophia Glaser, Caleb Allen, Samantha Aingell, Lucy Aingell, Mary Aingell, Noah Forbes, Olivia Forbes, Grant Slovacek, Nolan Slovacek, Spencer Slovacek, Storey Slovacek, Grant Glaser and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 415 South 7th St., Ponca City, OK 74601 or to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home