Joan Beauchamp

Joan Karslake Beauchamp, 79, passed away on November 25th, 2018 at home in Cornelius, NC surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born in Evanston, Illinois to the late Katherine King and Frank Gookin Karslake. She grew up in Kenilworth, IL and graduated in 1957 from New Trier High School.  In 1961, Joan graduated from Connecticut College for Women with a degree in early childhood education. In 1963, she married James Raymond Beauchamp (Jim) whom she met while teaching kindergarten in Natick, MA. They moved to Natick and had three children. In 1972, they settled in Ridgewood, New Jersey where they lived for 30 years. Joan worked for the YWCA Child Care Program as Educational Coordinator for many years and taught kindergarten at Hawes Elementary in Ridgewood for a year. Joan volunteered in the community for various arts organizations, most notably serving as chairperson for the Kasschau Memorial Shell Committee. She also served the Ridgewood Public Library as an ESL instructor for several years. In 2001, she and Jim retired to Cornelius, NC where Joan volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity Restore, was an active member of the Lake Norman YMCA Older Wiser Living Stronger (OWLS) program, and walked at Jetton Park or Bethel Presbyterian Church almost every day. Joan had a smile for everyone, was a friend to all children and always tried to be “upbeat.”

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her brother Donald Karslake.  She is survived by her husband Jim of 55 years, daughter Kathy Malone (Jim) of Simpsonville, SC, daughter Julie Klugh (Tom) of Cornelius, NC, son Jim Beauchamp of Baltimore, MD, grandson Matthew Peterson of St. Petersburg, FL, granddaughters Katie & Meghan Malone of Simpsonville SC, brothers Dick & Bill Karslake, sister Kay White and numerous nieces and nephews.  She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. 

A memorial service will be held summer of 2019 in Chautauqua, NY where eight generations of Joan’s family have spent the summer and where she was a member of the Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle (CLSC) Class of 2015.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1088, Davidson, NC 28036 or Lake Norman YMCA, 21300 Davidson Street, Cornelius, NC 28031.

The Beauchamp family is under the care of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Huntersville.  Online condolences may be made at raymerfh.com.