In Memoriam: William and Joann Hallahan

William and Joann Hallahan

William aka Bill Hallahan (Aug. 16, 1932- July 11, 2021) and Joann Hallahan (Jan. 15, 1934 – Dec. 19, 2020) are survived by their two daughters Sandy and Susan, their many grandchildren Katie, Brock, Breanne, Steven, Sally, Samantha, Shelley and Maxx and their many great grandchildren and are reunited with their son Billy in heaven.

Bill was the first and only in his family to graduate college. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in engineering and contract law. He went on to work for McDonald Douglas (now Boeing) as the director of pricing and contracting.

Bill was always very involved in his community everywhere he lived. Some of Bill’s passions were golf and barbershop quartet. If Bill wasn’t singing to his grandchildren or golfing, he was watching sports, reading the newspaper or most likely telling a joke.

Joann was a homemaker, an incredible artist, a baker, a cook and a seamstress. She found pleasure in making clothes, and many pillows for her family members. Joann had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening her bed of roses, fruit trees, banana palms and many other beautiful plants.

Joann had an amazing sense of humor and loved playing card games. Blue birds were a big fan of Joann and they always seemed to find her everywhere she went. She also had an eye for fashion and a love for creating. Joann was also Elizabeth Taylor’s doppelganger. She was often stopped in airports for her autograph while traveling, which she found quite amusing.

Bill and Joann were both born and raised in Missouri and ended up spending the majority of their retirement close to their family and on the golf course in Canyon Lake, CA. They were members of the Canyon Lake Travel Club. Bill was a member of the Canyon Lake Men’s Golf Club for over 25 years at the Canyon Lake Golf Course.

They may not have passed on the same day, but this obituary is being written for the two of them because they were inseparable. Bill and Joann were high school sweethearts. They were married 66 years, but together much longer. Their love was something you now only hear in fairytales, love novels or see in movies.

During Bill and Joann’s 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries, Bill sang their song, “It Had to be You,” to his beautiful other half. When Joann became very ill, and Bill was suffering from dementia, there wasn’t much that jogged his memory, except for one thing…his loving wife. During Joann’s last days, he sat down bedside to Joann, held her hand and started humming the tune to their song.

Bill and Joann may not be with us anymore, but the memory of their humor, their love of family and their true love for one another will always remain in our hearts. Rest in peace to these two beautiful souls. We love you, always and forever.

If you would like to attend the celebration of life for Bill and JoAnn please contact Sally Touw (email: sallytouw@gmail.com or cell: 619-572-4469).