SPARTA – Joan Gerlach , 62, of Sparta, passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at the St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Joan was born on July 10, 1954, in Red Bud, the daughter of Jack and Jane (Etherton) Jeffers. She married Dwayne R. Gerlach, on August 5, 1971, and they shared 45 years of marriage. Joan worked at Glister Mary Lee, in Steeleville and also for Sparta Light Metal in Sparta. She was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta.

Joan is survived by her husband; Dwayne R. Gerlach, of Sparta, 3 children; Tina (Tracy) Smith, of Sparta, Jenny (David) Webster, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Michael (Emily) Gerlach, of Sparta, 5 grandchildren; Sydney and Reese Smith, Max Webster, Carly and Kaylee Gerlach. She is also survived by 3 brothers; John and Christine Jeffers, of Sparta, Jim and Denise Jeffers, of Sparta, and Jay and Sherry Jeffers, of Coulterville.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial services will be held at 11 AM, Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville with Rev. Tom Klausing, Jr. officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday morning where friends may call from 9 to 11 AM at the funeral home. A private interment service will follow at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.