Joan Ann Landers, of Oakland Park, FL, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2019 at the age of 87. She was born in 1931 in New Jersey to the late Drusilla and Lloyd Knapp. She was very proud of her brother, Lloyd Knapp, who died while serving in the military when Joan was a teenager. She married John (Jack) Landers in 1965 who preceded her in death in 2004 and they raised five children together.
For many years, Joan worked at Point of Americas and was well known for her amazing parties that she and Jack would host in their home. Christmas time was always everyone's favorite as Joan and Jack would enlist their children, neighbors, and anyone they could find, to help decorate the entire inside of their house, including the bathrooms. It was truly a winter wonderland in sunny Florida. Everyone who knew them has a story to tell about “this one time at the Landers' house....”. It's easy to recall her welcoming you to her home with a huge smile and an equally large glass of wine. Many weekends were spent out on their boat, or, as they liked to call it, “a hole into the water into which one throws money”. And there isn't enough time to talk about all their trips to Disney World and how much they loved Mickey Mouse.
Joan was truly dedicated to her Oakland Park community and she enjoyed the time she spent in the Garden Club. We think her favorite part were the parties she hosted for them, but she also loved learning about plants. She was one of the people to help open the South Florida Wildlife Center in 1969 and she volunteered many years there. As such, she became known as the “bird lady of Oakland Park” and would help injured birds by rehabilitating them in an aviary she asked (made) her husband to build on the back of their home.
She is survived by her children, Drue Murray and her husband Len Murray, Al Landers, Jack Landers and his wife Lisa Landers, and Chris Landers and her wife Rae Landers. Joan's middle child, Janet Landers, passed away in 1985. She also had four loving grandchildren Tiana, Reno, Julia and Brooke, and a great-granddaughter, Aubriella.
A Celebration of Life service will be planned in the coming months. The family would love for anyone to make a contribution in Joan's name to the South Florida Wildlife Center (www.southfloridawildlifecenter.org) as this non-profit has always been so important to her. When making a donation, please mark it as "In Memory Of" and then fill in her name. You do not need to fill out the areas regarding "notification recipient". The wildlife center knows how to reach us. Thank you.