Joan Adele (née Wight) Munter, 76, of Salem, IL, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
Joan was born on June 25, 1947, in Chicago, IL, to Jack and Jane (née Brady) Wight. As a child, she lived in a number of places for her parents’ church-appointed ministerial work, including Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee. After graduating from high school in Paris, TN, she attended Graceland University in Lamoni, IA. It was in college that she met her future husband, Michael Munter, of Salem, IL. They were married on May 31, 1969. After one more year in Iowa, they moved to Salem, where Joan spent her professional career as an elementary school teacher, primarily in the kindergarten classroom. Having taught hundreds of children, mentored new teachers, and completed a Master of Education degree, she retired, at the top of her game, in 2012.
Foremost in her life, however, was her faith and the pursuit of the mission of Jesus Christ. A lifelong member of the Community of Christ Church, she was ordained to the office of Elder in 1993 and then to the office of High Priest in 2003. Her early ministry was devoted to youth programs. Along with her husband, Mike, she regularly led and taught at summer camps at Brush Creek Campground and hosted weekly gatherings for the youth of her local church. She also served as regional delegation leader to Spectacular, Graceland University’s annual, international summer camp, 1992-2005. Later, from 2011 to 2022, she served as president of the Brush Creek USA Mission Center, which includes more than 20 congregations across southern and central Illinois.
One of Joan’s greatest gifts was that of music. Whether singing or playing piano in church, accompanying elementary and middle school soloists at state music contests, directing children’s church choirs, leading perfectly executed campfire singalongs or making music with kindergartners, Joan consistently used music to enrich the lives of those around her.
Joan is survived by her brother, John (Carole) Wight, of Blue Springs, MO; her son, Chuck (Claire) Munter, of Columbia, MO; her daughter, Emily (Chris) Grover of Salem, IL; her son, M. Steen (Onyx) Munter, of Eugene, OR; and five grandchildren—Brady, Harvey, Margot, Braxton, and Jaxon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, and her parents.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:30 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at the Salem Community of Christ Church, 600 N. Ohio Ave., with graveside services prior to, held at 10:30 am in East Lawn Cemetery in Salem. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 1, 2024, at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Community of Christ Brush Creek Campground would be appreciated, as would donations to the Lupus Foundation of America, the American Cancer Fund, or the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
