Lena Joan Nielson Stringham
~ Together Forever ~

-- 7/8/33 – 2/5/12 --

CEDAR HILLS – Surrounded by her family at American Fork Hospital, Joan Stringham, age 78, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2012 from causes incident to a sudden acute lung condition. Joan was born to Jannice David and Lucy Elenora Haws Nielson, July 8, 1933 in Manti, UT.

Joan was born with music in her wings, being an accomplished violinist at a very young age, winning competitions and trophies as early as age 10, and then being offered a violin scholarship to Snow College. She performed regularly in symphonies, The Messiah, weddings, church meetings, and funerals all up until 2010 when she had shoulder surgery and couldn’t continue.

She loved performing with her sisters who added piano and cello to the mix. Joan gathered quite a following while singing with her high school group "The 8 Glories." She graduated from Manti High School and married the love of her life, Reid Stringham, July 18, 1951, in the Manti LDS Temple.

In 1961 Joan and Reid moved to San Jose where they raised their family for the next 35 years. Joan worked at Master Tax, preparing, hand calculating and checking the accuracy of each tax return. Her earnings provided the means to support the mandatory music lessons for her children. She loved camping, painting, and crafts.

In 1996 Reid helped build their haven in Woodland Hills only to pass away just six years later in December of 2002. Joan moved to Cedar Hills in 2009 where she remained until her death. She endured 27 years of serious debilitating illnesses, but despite her limitations, she practiced the gift of charity by doing whatever was in her power to bless the lives of friends and family. Her family was her crowning jewel, her passion, the greatest blessing in her life. We rejoice as she joins her eternal companion and imagine that greeting to be the sweetest of all reunions.

Joan is survived by her children, Randy (Debbie) Stringham, Julie (Walt) Lowry, Russell Stringham, Sherrol (Ken) Danielson, David (Sue) Stringham; sister, Mary Lou (Dean) Cluff; 21 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alton Reid Stringham; sister, Janice MacKay; and grandson, Derek Lowry.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 11:00 am, in the Cedar Hills 10th LDS Ward Chapel, 9737 North Chesterfield Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. Family and friends may call Friday evening from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and also Saturday morning from 9:45-10:45 am prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Manti City Cemetery at 4:00 pm.