Joan F. (Dickmann) Miller

Joan F. (Dickmann) Miller, 84, of Rock Island, passed away on April 3, 2025, at her home, after a long, brave battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Edgewood Baptist Church in Rock Island, with a luncheon to follow.

Joan was born on May 11, 1940, in Little Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of William and Frances (Branum) Dickmann. Joan grew up on a dairy farm in Randall, Minnesota. She was selected as Dairy Princess of Morrison County in high school. She attended beauty school and worked as a beautician after graduation.

Joan married John J. Miller on November 14, 1959, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Randall. She helped run the family newspaper in Swanville, Minnesota. In 1964, John and Joan moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, where they made many lifelong friendships, were active in many social clubs, and McCabe United Methodist Church.

Joan and her husband owned and operated Swan Lake Resort in Fergus Falls, Minnesota from 1978-1987. During that time Joan also worked at F.W. Woolworth’s and Holiday Inn. After moving to Rock Island in 1987, she worked at Isabel Bloom as a finisher and trainer, retiring in 2002.

Joan was a talented artist who took classes at Black Hawk College as well as private lessons. She was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church where she enjoyed volunteering her time. Joan enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, painting, playing cards & dominoes, listening to audio books, and her Bible study groups.

Survivors include her children, John “Joe” (Karen) Miller Jr., Nathan (Monique) Miller, Kit (Dan) Knittle; grandchildren, Micah, Chad (Amalia), Gavin, Raina, Hawkin, and Samantha Knittle and her family; and sister-in-law, Sandi Dickmann.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John; sister, Donna Nelson; brother, Jerry Dickmann; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Cohen.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.