Joan Neviackas

<p> </p><p>Joanne Ellen Neviackas, 72, of Decatur, died Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.</p><p>Memorial visitation will be from 4-7 pm Friday, April 20, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to S.H.A.R.E. or Starr.</p><p>Joanne was born February 3, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Milton and Barbara (Alkon) Feinberg. She married Jim Anthony Neviackas April 14, 1973, in Pepperill, MA. Joanne received her Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree from the University of Massachusetts. She was a lover of horses and enjoyed training her horses. She taught riding and trained international riders. Joanne owned and trained a horse named Moses with Bruce Davidson, a world renowned Olympic rider who won many gold medals and was the founder of the Kentucky Horse Park. She was trained by Bruce and also trained others alongside him. She was a member of S.H.A.R.E., Starr, Dressage Riders, Hundred Jumper Association, and The Eventing (3 Day) Society.</p><p>Joanne loved horses so much she saved and adopted many starved and abused horses. She gave them a home at Bunkor Hill stables (Horse Heaven). They were cared for just like her beloved Starbuck &ldquo;Bucky&rdquo;, a warm blood cross. She had trained him to 4th level dressage.<br><br></p><p>Bucky was the son of her ribbon winning 3 day event horse &ldquo;Islander&rdquo;, a Trakehner cross. They competed in many 3 day events, even at Kentucky Horse Park. Joanne trained many horses of different breeds over the years. Skip-QH, Moe - warm blood cross, Dutchman - thoroughbred, Windjammer - thoroughbred, Hunter - App TB cross, and Shilo, a warm blood cross. She was her last horse; they had reached 3rd level dressage with some 4th level.</p><p>Joanne rode almost every day, she went to many clinics with many top clinicians. She was always striving to be the best rider she could be. She always had high standards for herself and her students. She trained many that went on to great riding achievements.</p><p>Joanne was respected by many Olympic and international riders. She will be missed by many and was loved by all.</p><p>She is survived by her husband, Jim of Decatur; sons, Justin Neviackas and wife Lori of Marston Mill, MA and Jordan Neviackas and wife Anna of Chicago; sister, Polly Feinberg-Platka and husband Robert of Hull, MA; 2 grandchildren and several cousins.<br><br>Joanne was preceded in death by her parents.</p><p> </p>