Joan Helena Walker, née Czochanski, formerly Wiskowski, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025, at age 78.<br><br>Born in Jersey City, NJ, to Joseph and Helena Czochanski, Joan earned degrees in sociology from Rutgers University and began her career as a social worker before rising to Director of Motor Vehicles in New Jersey state government.<br><br>She built a distinguished corporate career, serving as Senior Vice President at Ameritech and Pharmacia, Executive Vice President at Qwest Communications, and Senior Vice President at Allstate Insurance Company.<br><br>Joan served on numerous boards including the Art Institute of Chicago, Brookfield Zoo, and as Board Chair of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.<br><br>Joan is survived by her children David and Christina and their wives Mersedeh and Margaretta; siblings Carol, Rita, John, Ann, and Jay; and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, and brothers-in-law Walter and Micky.<br><br>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum or Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University.<br><br>To learn more about her extraordinary life, read her full obituary here [https://www. chadwickmckinney.com/obituaries/joanwalker-16/#!/Obituary]<div></div><br>