Joan Hamernik

Joan Burnell Murphy Hamernik, 93, of Tulsa, Okla. passed away on June 12, 2023. Joan was born January 11, 1930, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She had a wonderful childhood with her parents, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dog, Flopsy. Joan grew up in Claremore where her family owned Murphy's Trading Post. She attended Claremore Public Schools. While at CHS she played clarinet. Joan graduated in 1947 and never missed a reunion. She attended Oklahoma A & M College (now Oklahoma State University) where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, again, fostering lifelong friends. She received a teaching degree in 1951. She was a proud Zebra and Aggie the rest of her life! Joan returned to Claremore to teach at Westside Elementary and met Robert Hamernik, a lawyer from Wisconsin, working in Claremore. They were married June 12, 1953 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Claremore. They moved to Bartlesville, Okla. for a short time with Phillips Oil then to Tulsa, Okla. where they lived in Lortondale neighborhood from 1955 until Joan's death. They were founding parishioners of St Pius X Catholic Church in Tulsa. Joan's husband worked as a lawyer at Warren Petroleum/Gulf Oil, transferred to Atlanta, Ga. for a few years then returned to Gulf Oil Tulsa office and later retired from the William K. Warren Foundation. Robert died December 1999 at 77 years old. Joan was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and G.G. She was smart, independent, athletic-she would lick her fingers and wind up to throw a football, hilariously silly with a dry sense of humor, outdoorsy (but later in life loathed bugs), great cook, played piano and made sure her children all took lessons, homework helper, busy chauffeur for her children and grandchildren having her share of speeding tickets in her station wagon, and she taught us how to care for each other by example. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Charlotte Bess Vanorden Murphy and Edward Lloyd Murphy, her brother, Edward Lloyd Murphy, Jr., and her husband Robert Hamernik. Joan is survived by her children: Constance G. Hamernik Doverspike and her husband, Terry, Katherine A. Hamernik and partner, Robert Barbre, Robert J. Hamernik, Mark E. Hamernik, and Michael Hamernik and wife, Kimberly; grandchildren: Adam C. Doverspike and wife, Jennifer, Erica J. Doverspike Crowder and husband, Jared, Michael L. Hamernik and fiance, Ana P. Schaefer, Matthew T. Hamernik, and Kate E. Hamernik; great-grandchildren: Lucy, James, Avery, Darcy, Samuel, Sophia, Bennett, Charlotte, Alexander, and Theodore (expected this summer); nephew: Stephen DeCanio and wife, Annie Kirchner. Flowers and/or memorial donations of your choice may be sent to Fitzgerald Southwood Funeral Service 3612 E 91st St S, Tulsa, OK 74137. The family thanks Scissortail Home Health, Miller Hospice, and Trinity Woods Cobb Landing for their compassionate end-of-life care.

Joan Hamernik

January 11, 1930 - June 12, 2023