Society.

Frank and Joanne were blessed with five children, with their first being born in May of 1953 in Colorado Springs. Thanks to his aircraft mechanic’s experience from the Navy, in 1954 Frank was able to secure a job on the B-52 program that was underway in Moses Lake, Washington, and Frank worked on this project for Boeing Aircraft for 8 years. Joanne and Frank had their other four children during their time in Moses Lake. After having their fifth child, Frank needed to find a second job to help make ends meet. He worked parttime for a sign company in Moses Lake, which is where he learned the trade of making signs. In 1962, the whole family moved from Moses Lake to the Denver area, and they ended up buying their home in Northglenn shortly thereafter. All five of their kids went to school in Northglenn. Frank was a very talented artist as well as an experienced sign man, so he ended up working full-time for a big sign company in Denver for a few years after moving back to Colorado. Frank decided to start his own sign business in 1965, and Joanne was in charge of all of the bookkeeping and front office duties for the business while Frank made his signs in the shop. They grew the business over time, and 30 years later, they sold the business and moved to Loveland.

While her children were still growing up, Joanne took on many other roles, other than being a great Mom. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, she was the treasurer of the local Northglenn Junior Baseball League that her young son played in for a number of years, and she was in charge of all of the money coming in from the concession stand sales during the games. Joanne also volunteered in the early 1970’s at a local hospital as a “Candy-Striper” who assisted the nurses with various duties and tasks, and she loved doing it. Joanne also took courses at a community college nearby for a year, and she loved the courses that she took. She believed in keeping her brain fresh and sharp throughout her whole life. It was so important to her and so beneficial as well. She was an avid reader her entire life, and she loved her mystery novels. She also absolutely loved flowers, so she went to a floral design school in Denver and got a job at the flower shop at Lowry Air Force base in Denver that she truly loved. She enjoyed watching the service men come in to purchase flowers for their special someone.

In 2001, Frank and Joanne moved from Loveland to Johnstown to spend their retirement years, and they loved the small town feeling that Johnstown had to offer. Joanne also had a huge place in her heart for nature and for all of God’s creatures, including the numerous cats and dogs that she owned and loved dearly over the years. Joanne was all about family, and she loved it when the family got together to celebrate birthdays, holidays, weddings, life, and each other.

Joanne is survived by her children, Karen, Laura, Steven, Daniel and Jeffrey; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. She always said that “family is everything” and she was so proud of the amazing family that she and Frank started almost 74 years ago.

A very special thank you goes out to the wonderful staff at Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins. The in-home care that Joanne received from them during her last 3 months of life was a true blessing from start to finish. The care and the compassion that the people at Pathways provide is priceless, and it will never be forgotten.

Joanne was cremated on July 24, and there will be a small graveside service at Johnstown Cemetery on August 10, where she will be buried alongside her husband, Frank. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to can donate to the Pathways Hospice of Fort Collins, or the American Cancer