Joanne Adelle Sjodin went to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 9, 2004, after a valiant struggle with heart disease. She was born Joanne Adelle White on March 7, 1929 in Brokenbow, Nebraska. Her father was a railroad engineer, so her first two years were spent living in a train caboose, traversing across the country. When Joanne was 2 years old, she and her mother moved to Mt. Vernon, Washington, to live with her Aunt Velma and Uncle Dean Logsdon. Joanne had very poor eyesight, and after several unsuccessful surgeries, it was decided that her remaining vision could only be preserved by going to live at the State School for the Blind in Vancouver, WA., where she resided from age 7 to age 15. It was there that she learned to read and write Braille, took typing, and learned to knit and crochet. Many friends and relatives still enjoy her handmade gifts of fisherman knit sweaters and baby blankets. And it was amazing to watch her fingers fly on her old manual Underwood typewriter!
Joanne came home to live with her mother and new stepfather, Dewey Chavis and to finish high school in Sedro Woolley. After graduation, she went to work as a medical transcriptionist at Northern State Hospital. She married the love of her life, Daniel Sjodin on July 19, 1952, and they raised their family and made their home in Sedro Woolley.
Joanne will be deeply missed by her husband of 52 years, Dan, of Sedro Woolley; her daughter and son-in-law Diane and Chris Weir of Sedro Woolley and their children Scott and Melinda; son and daughter-in-law Darryl and Joyce Sjodin of Marysville and their children Jeremy and Jordan; and daughter and son-in-law Darlene and Bruce Bock of Bellingham. She is also survived by her step-sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Orin Coulter, brother- and sister-in-law Roy and Dorothy Sjodin, brother-in-law Reider Rasmussen, special cousin/friend Barbara Rayment, and many nieces and nephews.
Joanne was preceded in death by her mother, Faye Logsdon Chavis and stepfather, Dewey Chavis, and by an infant daughter, Linda Kay. She became a Christian in 1958 and was a member of the Cascade Christian Church in Sedro Woolley, and also enjoyed the ministry of Stan and Missy Wing and friends at Life Care Center.
Joanne’s favorite pastimes were knitting, a good cup of coffee, watching her afternoon ‘programs’, camping and traveling in the RV, the Mariners, and making her famous chicken and noodles for her family. She was always the life of the party and we can’t wait to meet again in Heaven!
A Graveside Inurnment Service will be held Friday, October 15, 2004 at 11:00AM at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon with a Memorial Service and reception to follow at 1:00PM at Bethel Assembly of God, 805 Township St., Sedro Woolley with Pastor John Douglas of Anacortes Christian Church officiating.
Donations in Joanne’s name may be directed to the Lions Club International Foundation, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842, or to the National Marfan Foundation, 22 Manhasset Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050 www.marfan.org . Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. You are invited to share your memories of Joanne by signing our online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com