DODGE CITY – Joan Woodruff, 94, died Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Fowler Residential Care, Fowler, Kansas. She was born December 27, 1930, at Garden City, Kansas, the daughter of Theodore J. and Hazel K. (Bowers) Gardner.  She attended school in Fowler and was a graduate of Fowler High School.  On October 17, 1949 she married Dale A. Woodruff at St. Anthony Church in Fowler.

She and Dale raised their four children and she owned and operated a daycare for many years. Her daycare kids were very special to her and she loved teaching them basic chores and life skills.  She was a selfless wife, mother and grandmother who always put others' needs over her own.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City.

Survivors include:  her son, Jim Woodruff and wife Diane, Meade; 2 daughters, Shelia Hageman and husband Kevin, Fowler and Tanya Williams and husband David, Dodge City; her daughter-in-law, Cindy Woodruff, Meade; 22 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale on November 24, 2022, a son, Ted Woodruff, a grandson, James Dale Woodruff and a brother, James Gardner.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Monday, November 10, 2025 at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.  Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am Tuesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadlupe, Dodge City, with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding.  Burial will be at 2:30 pm Tuesday in the Fowler Cemetery, Fowler.  Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Monday at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.

The family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart School Endowment in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.