Joan Ford Wallick

Joan Claassen Ford Wallick, 94, of Big Horn, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025.

Joan was born on May 13, 1931, in the small town of Wellsburg, Iowa to Lucille and Richard Claassen. Growing up during the Great Depression gave her a lifelong appreciation for community, resourcefulness, and the strength of close family ties.

A bright student, Joan graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in 1948. That same year, she was crowned Queen of the Eastern Iowa Band Festival and received a scholarship to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she studied biology and botany. Joan earned her B.A. in Biology in 1952 and was inducted into both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She was also a devoted member of the Kappa Delta sorority.

While at Coe, Joan met Wally Ford. In 1951, she was elected Homecoming Queen and he was the football captain. Though they didn’t begin dating until just before graduation, their connection was strong. They became engaged later that year and were married on November 7, 1953, at the Reformed Church in Wellsburg.  Wally was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and they eventually moved to Hampton, Virginia. Following a tragic plane crash, Wally spent two years recovering at the Portsmouth, Virginia Naval Hospital and finally in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. In 1957, they made their way west and bought a ranch on the Powder River in Wyoming, and later a home in Big Horn. Joan earned her pilot’s license and flew a Cessna 182 between the ranch and home. Sadly, Wally passed away in 1961.

In 1963, Joan married Bob Wallick, and the two spent over five decades together, sharing a life full of love and adventure. Their travels took them around the world, including to Israel, Poland, Ireland, Spain, France, Africa, Bangkok, England, the Philippines, and Belize. In 1966, they flew around the world in a Beechcraft Baron plane, setting a world speed record for the fastest time around the globe: five days, six hours, and 16 minutes. Bob passed away during the 50th anniversary of that incredible journey.

Joan was a passionate advocate for mental health and served for many years on the Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center Board. She was equally dedicated to conservation and the environment, working side-by-side with Bob on causes that mattered to them both. She was a founding member of the Bighorn Audubon Society and an early supporter of the Powder River Basin Resource Council.  Her love for the arts and Wyoming history also led her to enthusiastically support the Brinton Museum and the Big Horn Historical Society, among many others.

A lifelong botanist, Joan poured her heart into her flower gardens. She took pride in knowing every Latin name and could recall them alongside her favorite songs and poems late in life.  She delighted in sharing her beautiful blooms with others in the community. 

For 13 years, Joan and Bob made an annual trip to Belize with family and friends, where she enjoyed birdwatching and the natural beauty of the region. Always stylish in her own unique way, she was often seen in her signature denim skirt, a fashionable blouse, a favorite necklace, and her beloved concha belt.

Joan also had a deep love of reading and kept a wide-ranging collection of books. Christmas was her favorite holiday—she transformed her home each year with dazzling decorations, creating magical memories for all who visited. She was a warm and welcoming hostess who made everyone feel at ease.  Joan lived a life filled with curiosity, kindness, adventure, and beauty. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Richard J. Claassen; her sister, Marilyn Roberts; and her beloved husbands, Wally Ford and Bob Wallick.

She is survived by her sister, Barbara Claassen; her daughters, Anne Montgomery (Robert Montgomery) and Dr. Sarah Wallick (Aaron Denberg); her stepchildren, Robert L. Wallick, Jr. (Cathie Wallick) and Kay Wallick (D.J. Purcell); her step-grandchildren, Will Wallick (Jason Sarmiento) and Lee Wallick; and her great-granddaughter, Dakota Wren Richmond.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 4:00pm at the Brinton Museum.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.