Joanne Happekotte Moore

Joanne Happekotte Moore, an unwavering Christian servant and consistent prayer warrior, passed away peacefully to take her well-earned place with her personal Lord and Savior on April 2, 2026, following years of persistent diabetic health complications. She was 84 years old. Born on November 11, 1941, in Los Angeles, CA, the daughter of Clarence and Wilma Happekotte, she married Rev. F. Vernon Moore on September 11, 1960, in Waterloo, Iowa, where they also celebrated their 48TH wedding anniversary before he preceded her in death in 2008. Joanne graduated as a nurse in 1962 and dedicated herself to a 45-year-long profession as a nurse, nursing educator, and hospital administrator. During that span, she successfully balanced her characteristic caring nature between her chosen profession and her cherished responsibilities as the steadily reliable guiding hand and beloved family matriarch who exuded warmth and wisdom that touched countless lives. Joanne's career spanned working in hospitals in Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, where she combined her widely-recognized clinical expertise and reliable leadership with a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of caregivers while gracefully tending to those assigned under her watchful custody. After a debilitating automobile accident and determined recovery in 1984, she stepped away from her position as the Director of Nursing at Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, MO. She then effectively channeled her resilience, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit into first establishing and managing Lifestyles Unlimited (an initial part of St. Francis Medical Center's community outreach strategy) and then later Health Source, Inc. (which provided specialized food products, specialty dietary support and consultation and a physician referral network). These consecutive commercial ventures, located in the West Park Mall throughout the remainder of the 1980's, reflected her commitment to wellness and education beyond traditional healthcare settings. They also instituted her as a true pioneer and outside-the-box thinker, an incredible force in the Cape business community, and someone who believed deeply in giving back. These were traits that were clearly reflected in her participation in the inaugural "Leadership Cape" class conducted by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and reinforced through her natural ability to build lasting beneficial relationships. Following those endeavors, she again returned to nursing administrations jobs, first becoming the Vice President for Acute Care Services at Crittenden County Hospital in Marion, KY, before accepting a position as the Director of Nursing at Lancaster Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, WI. As a lifelong learner, Joanne pursued knowledge relentlessly and inspired those around her to do the same. She was known for her fostering nature and always being willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends in times of need. As a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she found her greatest joy in nurturing and supporting her family, and created an environment exemplified by devotion and strength that will endure as her greatest legacy. In her leisure time, Joanne enjoyed reading, quilting, and gourmet cooking. She was an active member of both the River Heritage Quilters' Guild in Cape Girardeau, and the Bootheel Quilt Guild in Sikeston, Missouri, where she openly and infectiously shared her creativity and camaraderie with fellow quilting artisans in the region. Even into her early 80's, she served as an indominable supporting force and mentoring business visionary for her daughter's decision to leave her own nursing career and open the Cotton Mill Quilt Company in Cape Girardeau. Joanne is survived by her sister, Sandra Hein of Arvada, CO; her three children LTC (Ret.) Timothy Moore of Fayetteville, NC, Rebecca Moore, and Philip Moore (Suzan) of Cape Girardeau, MO; and two grandsons Zachary Moore (Kennedy) and Connor Moore, also both of Cape Girardeau. She will long be remembered for her compassionate heart, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering dedication to family and community. Her life exemplified service, learning, and love - qualities that continue to inspire all who knew her. Visitation and funeral services will be held at Lynnwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, MO, where she has been a member since 2004, on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Visitation is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and a celebration of life service will follow immediately thereafter. As additional options in lieu of gifts or flowers, the family suggests contributions to the following charities in her memory: Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation headquartered in Bethesda, MD (1-800- / www.diabeteswellness.net) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and providing care to those affected by the disease through their research funding, community outreach, and wellness programs. Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging headquartered in Cape Girardeau, MO (1-573-335-3331 / www.agingmatters2u.com) is a non-profit organization serving 18 counties in Southeast Missouri with the mission to provide quality services that enhance health, safety, and well-being of individuals 60 and over, enabling them to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com. Ford & Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Joanne Happekotte Moore

November 13, 1941 - April 2, 2026