Joanne Gehrke

Joanne was a beautiful blend of strength of character and conviction with a softness of nature. She was an only child, but in reality, all of her cousins were her siblings. She also somehow, developed friends that became lifelong friends. Some became like sisters.
Joanne was a perfectionist who loved to decorate. She started a decorating business when we were still in Chicago. On Long Island when we started a home project, she was the creative brains, and I was the muscle. While I would start to lose interest once the “challenge” was solved, she would step in and drive it (really me) until it was perfect and completed. Its unfortunate that her last project of updating our pool and backyard, she did not get to thoroughly enjoy. The pool project would have no doubt made the Christmas letter which she eloquently wrote with love each year.
Joanne was amazingly athletic and loved to be in motion. Most of you know her as an avid tennis player, but there was more. She did ballet and competed in figure skating as a child. She would drag me to the rink about 2-3 times a year just because she loved to skate. She learned to snow ski, as she claimed, when it was lace up boots and wooden skis. She was amazingly graceful at it and would ski all the double black diamonds. I taught her to water ski which she also made look effortless and graceful. She loved to dance and even took classes as an adult here on long island. She even dragged me to ballroom dance lesson, but it was a futile effort, she was convinced that I was tone deaf. Joanne loved the water and our boat. She was truly a Pisces and loved to swim, as our boating peeps know. She would be swimming laps around our flotilla while the rest of us lounged with appetizers and drinks.
Joanne’s faults were more like enduring character traits. She was very technically challenged. It was almost beyond her on how to work the TV remote. Being on time was also a challenge. Getting to 9am tennis was an act of God. She would queue all her tennis stuff by the back door and always ate breakfast in the car on the way. I have to say that she was more on time when the wig came into play. She could prep it the night before and just toss it on. This was Joanne, but we loved her for it.
She was tenacious about celebrating life events, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. It bothered her to no end that we did not have a party for our 40th anniversary. (We did get the new boat though…) Many of the celebrations involved her cooking or baking, which she loved to do. Many of you have experienced her famous Blue Berry Buckle.
As a mom she was dedicated to her boys and worked hard to make them successful in life. As a wife, she was devoted, loyal, loving, caring and always put me first. Joanne was truly my soul mate and was the better part of me. I consider myself lucky and blessed that I had such a wonderful life with her. Joanne’s impact on my life and our boys will remain with us forever.
She will be remembered fondly because of her softness of nature, but her strength of character and deep faith is what helped her in her fight these last 4 years and allowed her to do it with courage and grace. May she now rest in Jesus’ arms.