Joan M. Behrens

Joan M. Behrens, 79, of Fountain Hills, formerly of North Aurora, Ill., passed away on Feb. 27, 2010 following a long illness.

“She had amazing strength, an indomitable spirit and loved life with a ferocity rivaled only by that of the love for her family,” said her daughter, Leigh Behrens.

She was born Joan Marie Haines on Nov. 18, 1930, in Joliet, Ill., and then lived for several years on her family’s farm in Oneida, Ill. She moved to Aurora, Ill., graduated from West Aurora High School and attended Aurora University (then Aurora College), where she studied art, literature and anthropology.

There she also met the man who would become her husband of 53 years, Harlan R. “Barney” Behrens, who first noticed the striking “Joanie” strolling across campus wearing a blue-and-white-checked coat.

“I saw her red hair, and I thought, ‘who is that?’” he remembers, and the two went on their first date shortly thereafter, set up by friends.

Barney was smitten with her sharp wit and effervescence, but admits Joan probably wasn't impressed, since he kept falling asleep -- they had dinner right after an AU football game in which he had played quarterback.

Joan consented to another outing -- but only after getting Barney to promise to stay awake. They married on July 20, 1956.

After working for a brokerage firm in Chicago, and later for the former Aurora Pump Co., Joan then focused on raising her children and community endeavors. A charter member of the North Aurora Library Board, she served for 17 years.

She also was an active member of and volunteer for numerous school and cultural organizations, including the PTA and Aurora's Paramount Arts Centre.

She moved part-time to Arizona in 1986 and continued to participate in social and civic organizations, becoming involved in the Fountain Hills Women's Club, the Fountain Hills Arts Council and working as a docent for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

She also enjoyed her membership in the International Red Hat Society and was an active member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

A voracious reader and news and pop culture addict, Joan reveled in hosting annual spring break gatherings in Arizona for her daughter and her daughter’s friends, for nearly a decade.

Joan lived with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), and battled its debilitating effects for more than 25 years. She died peacefully in the care of the Hospice of the Valley's Eckstein Center in Scottsdale, surrounded by her loving family. She also relied on support there and throughout her final years from Steve Bergeson, pastor at Shepherd of the Hills.

Joan's survivors include her husband, Harlan; three children, Leigh (Andrew Fegelman) Behrens, of Healdsburg, Calif., Eric (Sue) Behrens, of E. Peoria, Ill., and Chris (Christine Diane) Behrens, of Golden, Colo.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Judy (Tony) Stewart and brother-in-law, Robert Behrens; four grandchildren, Alex, Luke and Anah Marie Behrens and Jordan Wilson; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford T. Haines and Elizabeth M. McGuire Haines; an infant daughter, Maria Behrens; a sister, June Rose Haines; a brother, Clifford T. Haines II; a sister-in-law, Audrey Behrens; and a niece, Cathy Haines.

Messinger Mortuary Fountain Hills is handling cremation arrangements and internment will be at Shepherd of the Hills' Prayer Garden columbarium.

A memorial will be set for later this spring in Fountain Hills, and the family plans to pay tribute by establishing a scholarship at Aurora University.

Contributions in Joan’s honor may be made to the American Lung Association, Hospice of the Valley or Shepherd of the Hills.

Paul J. Robinson

Paul J. Robinson, 67, died at 3:35 p.m., Feb. 26, 2010 following a long-term illness.

He was born July 17, 1942 in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Mackin High School in 1961, also several colleges.

He was a project manager engineer for several companies including Valley Protective Services. He also worked for Fort McDowell Casino as a security officer.

Mr. Robinson lived in 72 places all over the country, overseas and the world. He loved the different cultures, and was a very intelligent man.

 He was a jogger and was a member of the Air Force ROTC program, Rife Association in Washington, D.C. and Valley Singles Club in Arizona. He returned to Arizona in October, where he called home, and his final resting place.

Surviving are his brother, Joe Robinson and wife, Elaine of Apopka, Fla.; his sister, Rosemary Miller of Rockville, Md.; his sister, Libby Colwell of Rowena, Texas; his brother, John Robinson of Rockville, Md.; a daughter, Joy Day and husband, Rick; two grandchildren Kyle and Cameron Shelley of Olympia, Wash.; niece, Janet Gaus of McKenny, Texas; and nephew, William Goldsborough of Rowena, Texas; and his best friend, Debbie Dehner of Fountain Hills. He will truly be missed by his family and friends.

His philosophy was to “take one day at a time and before he went to bed at nigh and always said “good night, God bless.”

There will be a memorial service held at Debbie’s home on Thursday, March 11, at 5 p.m. There will be a potluck following. For information contact Dehner at (480) 837-9449.