Joan Simandl's Obituary
Joan (nee Bartelson) Simandl, 80, passed away from complications of heart disease July 7, 2018.She is survived by her loving and patient husband of nearly 40 years, Jerry Simandl;one son, Joseph W. Montgomery; one daughter, Jena S. Montgomery; stepchildren Terri Sue and Jerry Jr. Simandl; sisters Ellen Roan and Gale Caldwell (Len); granchilden Jacey L. (Jared) Duke, Jessica N. Anderson, Justen D. Montgomery, and Dustin T. (Chelsea Cruz) Dominick; great-grandchildren Noah R. Lund, Isaiah D. Dominick, and Hudson E. Duke; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.Joan was born at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers on February 14, 1938 and graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1957, where she was in the marching band. After graduating, she began her more than 30 year career in banking working nights in the proof department at First National Bank of Fort Myers downtown, eventually becoming a branch manager. She “retired” in her 50s, but it didn’t stick, and she went back to work in at the courthouse before returning to banking (and many of her First National Bank colleagues) as an information specialist at South Trust Bank.She married fellow high school classmate Jerry Simandl Dec. 9, 1978 after becoming reacquainted by taking her son for many year to shop at Jerry’s clothing store, Jerry’s Mens & Boys Wear in North Fort Myers.Joan was kind, honest, funny, could tell a great (often off-color!) joke, and cleaned her house for “fun”. She was very close to and spent hours on the phone talking to her sisters. In the past several years, Joan and Jerry cared for and entertained great-grandson Noah.A Celebration of Joan’s life will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12 at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FLFuneral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-0555.
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