Joann Johnson was born on March 15th 1931 in Salida, Colorado and peacefully passed away on March 14th 2018 at Loma Linda University Hospital. She married Howard Johnson at the age of 20 years old on December 18th 1951. They spent the next 34 years happily married before Howard’s passing in 1986.
Together they had a beautiful daughter that they named Linda. She is now married to Robert Hice. Joann leaves behind her daughter, son-in –law and grandson, Gregory.
She lived an amazing and generous life in which she dedicated her time to her community. Joann was the founder of the Grand Terrace Senior Center and an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Joann began the Grand Terrace Senior Center with a single small room and was instrumental in it's growth and development. Including the recent move into their newest building located on Grand Terrace Road.
In her earlier years Joann worked as a high school math teacher. However, over the last 25 years she has spent her time dedicated to volunteering wherever she could. She was an active member of the crime prevention committee, an emergency response team and the citizen’s patrol.
Along with all of those roles, she helped direct the senior center and their services for the city of Grand Terrace, and was also the president of the Grand Terrace Senior Association. Her motto was, “If something needs to be done and there’s nobody around to do it, then do it yourself," and she used this to help keep her motivated and to continually excel in all areas.
Even with her many responsibilities in volunteering, she still found time for her own special interests and hobbies. Joann was extremely talented in many crafts. Such as sewing, crochet, quilting, and needlepoint. She also took up being a radio operator.
During a short interview with her daughter, Linda stated, “Our family will miss her very much, along with all of the seniors and Brookdale.”
On Wednesday April 4th, the family and the community had a Celebration of Life Ceremony in her honor. Joann spent a majority of her life dedicated to her family and to her community, for this she was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all.