Hello Everyone,

It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our cherished friend, member and artist Joan Kuypers on June 6th. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her entire family.
A lifelong Madison, Wisconsin and Naples, Florida resident, Joan studied art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her Art Education degree. After graduating, Joan immediately started a teaching job in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many of you may not know that during college, Joan met and fell in love with her brother's roommate Jerome (Jerry) Kuypers, who traveled to Ann Arbor to visit her often—and one year after graduation, they were married. Joan continued to teach elementary art for many years. She loved her job and changed the lives of many children. She even established the extracurricular program Art Aids of America, in which students would stay after school to work on additional art projects—a program that gave her great joy.

Joan and Jerry were married for 47 years. They raised their family in Madison, and in the late '80s, retired to Bonita Springs. A very gifted artist, Joan joined the Art League, now the Centers for the Arts, where she was an active member, volunteer and prolific creator of beautiful paintings, and later fused glass and jewelry.

To celebrate her lifelong commitment to the arts as mentor, educator and artist, we have created the Joan Kuypers Art Fund. Each year, this unique fund will help students in need, as well as provide critical support for the development of new Visual Arts Programs at the Centers. If you would like to contribute to the Joan Kuypers Art Fund, simply call our offices 239.495.8989; visit our website to donate—select Annual Fund and insert Joan's name in the description box; or you can mail your donation to our offices at Centers for the Arts, 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

We'll all miss Joan, yet we will treasure our fond memories of her working in our studio, laughing and sharing her art with us.

I hope you will join me in honoring our dear friend. I think Joan would love the idea of us, all together, creating opportunities for others to learn, share and enjoy the arts.