Joan Clarissa Vorlander

LODI-Joan Clarissa (Fuller) Vorlander passed away surrounded by family at Our House Assisted living in Lodi, her home for the past year. Born July 18, 1922 to Claude Elliott and Clarissa (Shurmer) Fuller in Sydney, Australia, she grew up in Wellington, New Zealand with her parents and sisters Ruth and Barbara. She met Carl William (Bill) Vorlander, a United States Marine, while he was on leave from duty in the South Pacific. After a suitable courtship, and Bill having passed muster with Joan's parents, they started making wedding plans, but they had to hurry things up when Bill, who was in the hospital recovering from wounds received in the War, learned that he was being shipped home immediately. They married the day before he left, November 23, 1943 (Bill was in a full body cast – some honeymoon!). Joan went on a waiting list for transport to the States, with instructions to be ready to depart on very short notice. A few months later, that's what she got; notice to say her goodbyes to home and family and report to the ship the next day. Joan traveled from Wellington to San Francisco with a dozen or so other 'war brides' on a troop transport ferrying Japanese prisoners of war to the United States. Joan had clear recollection of her trip across the Pacific, "...it was very scary and the Japanese were convinced we (the brides) were onboard to serve the needs of the ship's officers." After a voyage of thirty days or so, Joan arrived in port expecting to take a bus trip to Camp Pendleton, but Bill surprised her when he was waiting for her when the bus stopped in Los   Angeles. Joan became a United States citizen years later, but, if you asked her, she'd tell you her heart was still "Down Under." We kids grew up eating Marmite sandwiches, a New Zealand dietary staple – try getting a trade for a PB&J in the lunchroom when all you have is Marmite! We called Joan Mom, Mum, or Ma (only Bruce), but her favorite was Nana by her grandkids, and Nana, Nana Jo, or Nana Gigi, depending on which bunch of great-grandkids were with her. She lived in her own home up to her last year, when she (grudgingly, but of her accord) moved to Our House Assisted Living in Lodi. Surviving Joan are her children, Phillip (Linda) Vorlander, Bruce (Vicky) Vorlander, Barbara (Larry) Johnson, Geoffrey (Jody) Vorlander, and Claudia (Markus) Orvis. Joan is further survived by twelve grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; her sister, Barbara (Christine) Fuller; niece, Pamela Hardy and nephew, Andrew Hardy. In addition to her husband Bill, who passed away on January 7, 1989, Joan was preceded in death by grandsons Jacob and Tobin Vorlander; great-grandson John Matthew Jackson; her sister Ruth Fuller Hardy and brother-in-law Andrew Hardy. Joan's family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff of Our House-Lodi for the care they gave and the respect they showed Joan while it was her home this past year, and to the Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. caregivers who eased the pain of our Mom's transition from this life. We owe them all a debt of gratitude that we will honor forever. Funeral service will be held at HAMRE GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 157 S. Main St., Lodi, 12 noon on Monday, April 4, 2016. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Agrace HospiceCare, Inc., 5895 E Cheryl Pkwy, Madison, WI 53711, or the Lodi Public Library. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Hamre Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Care 157 S. Main Street, Lodi (608)592-3201