Joanie Rada, 80

The Lord has finished perfecting one of His chosen. Joan Marie Eckley Wilson Pickett Kralic Rada crossed over on Thursday, Apr. 3, surrounded by family and loved ones after a sudden and unexpected illness.

Joanie was born to Lula Christine and Walter “Bugs” Eckley on Aug. 20, 1944, while her father was in the Pacific fighting in World War II with the U.S. Navy. She and her family remained in Jefferson County throughout her childhood; she graduated from the Clancy School and then from Jefferson High School, where she was president of the 1962 graduating class.

Joanie married Mike Wilson and had a daughter, Valerie Wilson. Joanie later married Robert Pickett and had a son, William Pickett, and welcomed Leonard, Lorrie, Bob, and Lynette Pickett as her children. Joanie married Ralph Kralic and counted Jim Kralic as another one of her sons.