Joanne Howard
Aug. 27, 1933-Jan. 30, 2026
Pleasanton, California
Forever in our Hearts: Joanne Joy Howard 1933-2026
Joanne Joy Howard was born in Ohio on 8/27/1933, daughter to John and Ann Becker. Married in 1954 to Richard (Dick) Howard, they have four children: Leanne Montoya (Eddie Montoya), Lauri James (Mike McKeon), Lynnea Washburn (Jeff Washburn) and Rick Howard (Jennifer Sadowsky). They were also blessed with 7 grandsons, 6 grandchildren and growing. Joanne and Dick lived in Pleasanton, California (30 years), Carbondale, Colorado (17 years), and in both Maple Valley and Issaquah, Washington (13 years). They established treasured relationships everywhere they called home.
The most important things to Joanne all throughout her life were faith, family and community.
In high school, Joanne learned to play the violin (quite well), she performed as a drum majorette and was part of the synchronized swimming team. Joanne was nominated for Homecoming Queen in high school, and was second runner up in the Miss Cleveland competition. She also did some modeling in a major department store in Cleveland. Joanne continued her education at Western Reserve University, where she studied nursing and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Reaching this goal took awhile, as her studies were interrupted four times by the births of her children. She also attended at Akron General hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Joanne’s ensuing health career was very diverse, beginning in the role of an emergency backup nurse to a traveling circus, and eventually moving into administrative positions alongside many volunteer roles.
Early on, Joanne became an administrator of other nursing volunteers. She also volunteered at the American Red Cross teaching women inmates how to care for newborn babies, and taught infant education for students, Doctors and their wives. She worked as a supervisor for a family planning clinic, and was the Director of Hope Hospice in Contra Costa County. This was followed by a Hospice volunteer board member position. Joanne was also on the board of mental health clinic, and found time to volunteer at an animal shelter.
Joanne enjoyed an adventurous lifestyle with her husband Dick, traveling many countries around the world over the course of many years, sometimes with organizations, always with friends, and together they created many precious memories. That being said, Joanne’s favorite trip was to Africa, as she held a deep love of animals and felt a special connection to the country and its people.
Joanne loved working on a variety of building projects alongside her husband. She participated in converting a 100-year-old barn into a beautiful 3 story home in Pleasanton. Following this, she assisted Dick as he constructed a new home from the ground up in Colorado. She also helped update the Pleasanton Presbyterian Church, and was involved in a number of community housing projects alongside her husband.
Joanne had a very creative side with interest in various art forms which included oil painting, leaded glass, refinishing furniture, sewing, liturgical interpretive choreography & dance performed with her daughters. Additionally, Joanne directed and participated in various church productions, including the role of the Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof, violin and all.
Joanne enjoyed an active life filled shared with family and friends which included camping trips, water skiing, snow skiing, hiking, exploring, walking, water aerobics, and swimming in ridiculously cold rivers.
Mom had a joyful spirit and kind heart toward all those around her, always remembering to send sweet notes of well-wishes and appreciation to friends and family. She was beautiful inside and out, embraced the fun and adventure in life, she loved to learn new things, loved to visit new places and meet new people. She loved every community she lived in, and they loved her back. Above all, she loved the Lord and her family, and we all felt it, flourished from it, and now pass on her legacy of love to our growing families.
