Joan Ripley McGuinn

Joan Ripley McGuinn died in Georgetown KY on December 15, 2022 after a short battle with COVID-19. Joan was born on March 13, 1940 in Chicago IL to Jane Plamondon Ripley McGuinn and John Carroll McGuinn. She had three siblings, John Michael McGuinn, Carroll Lynn McGuinn (Wells), and Molly McGuinn (Donahue). Joan grew up splitting her time between Lincoln Park where she attended Francis Parker School, and the family farm in Leland, Illinois where they spent summers riding ponies, driving the buckboard, and generally getting into trouble. Joan graduated from Francis Parker School in 1958, and attended Stephens College for one year. She was married to James Craven Freeman from 1961 to 1972. They had three children, Charlotte McGuinn Freeman, James Patrick McGuinn, and John Michael Freeman. Joan was predeceased by both of her sons. Michael died from childhood leukemia in 1972, and Patrick died in an automobile accident in 2003. She was also predeceased by her beloved sister Lynn Wells, and both of her parents. She is survived by Charlotte McGuinn Freeman and her partner Chuck Defandorf of Livingston, MT, by her siblings Michael McGuinn and his wife Liz of Davie FL, and Molly McGuinn and her husband John Paijkos of Leland, IL. She is also survived by her dearest friends of over sixty years, Daphne and Charles Dennehy, and by Rush Weeden all of Lake Forest, IL, and Tracey and Robert Denney of Georgetown, Kentucky who took such good care of her during her last years. Joan spent most of her adult life in Lake Forest. She was instrumental in running the Lake Forest Horse Show, and was a member of the Mill Creek Hunt Club and the Bath and Tennis Club. For several years she was the manager at the Lake Forest Club, where she took great pride in mentoring young people. Joan had countless younger friends over the years, and she treasured being a person they came to for advice. For nearly twenty years she managed Country House Antiques, where she loved talking about beautiful objects and helping people decorate their homes. Joan was very funny, a great conversationalist, and loved a party. She was a talented artist and although she faced more than her fair share of tragedy, she rarely encountered a problem she didn’t think could be made more bearable by the application of craft glue, magic markers, and paper mâché. The love and support of her Lake Forest community sustained her through all of her losses, and her family will be eternally grateful for their support. Her last years were spent in Georgetown, Kentucky where she got to indulge her love of horses and horse shows at the Kentucky Horse Park and by volunteering at Old Friends Equine Retirement farm. All who knew and loved Joan are invited to join us for a Celebration of Life Service at 11:30 am on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at The Church of The Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster, Lake Forest, IL with a reception to follow. Interment will take place at 11 am on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL Memorial contributions in Joan's name may be made to the Matthias Academy adult day program in Bristol, Wisconsin at https://www.matthiasacademy.org/.

Joan Ripley McGuinn

March 13, 1940 - December 15, 2022