Getting to Know, JoAnn. . .

My family made their home in Clear Lake, Iowa and I was the youngest of five children (1 boy and 4 girls).  We moved to California where I attended Mt. Diablo High School.  Don and I met when we both played saxophone in the school band.   After graduating from Mt. Diablo I worked for the Principal of Ambrose Elementary School.  When my family moved to Sacramento, I enjoyed working in the Drivers’ License Division and also the Division of Highways, Research and Development Department for the State of California. 

Don and I were married in Sacramento and made our home in Concord.  We have 4 children, (3 boys and 1 girl.) Our 59 years together has been blessed and surrounded by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Don is generous, honest and dedicated to his family with a long history of volunteering.

My volunteer work began with the PTA when the children started school.  I assisted with the girls belonging to the Blue Birds and became a leader of the older group called the Camp Fire Girls.  Our church office needed help and as a result I worked as Wedding Hostess.   

 After 20 years of being a housewife I went back to work for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District.   My jobs were varied and interesting, including the Purchasing Department, the Career Education Project and Pleasant Hill Intermediate School.  I worked for the Gifted/Talented Program Administrator and as Senior Secretary in the Data Processing Department.

While Don was retired (7 years before me) he became a very good cook and soon spoiled me.  I finally decided to join him after 25 years of service with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District so we could  spend more time with our grandchildren and do some traveling. 

Our first cruise was on the NCL for 14 days in the Caribbean.  When Don retired we flew to Hawaii, Fiji and on to New Zealand. We toured the   North Island to the South Island in a rented diesel powered motor home.  While in Australia we visited the 1988 World’s Fair in Brisbane. 

When I retired we took a fascinating 55 day cruise around South America. The SSBritanis was built in the early 1930s and was one of the original ships that belonged to the Matson Lines.

We spent 21 days on the Sky Princess Ship to Alaska, Aleutian Island, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.  

We traveled with Grand European Tours for 21 days in Europe.  One of the highlights was taking the Eurostar Train from Avignon, France under the English Channel (“Chunnel”) to London.  The Eurostar reached speeds of 300km/h in France.   We have visited 49 of the 50 United States of America the exception being North Dakota. 

I enjoy belonging as Treasurer to the Red Hat Society, Classy Chassis, Chapter 564 along with 32 other women.  I am a retired certified massage therapist and enjoy Qigong, deep water exercise, crocheting, knitting, bead work, walking and taking pictures of scenery.  Health and related issues are important to me.    

After Don had heart surgery we felt a need to join Mended Hearts.  We enjoy our participation in Chapter 254, because the people are optimistic and eager for more health information.  The visitation program is especially interesting and worthwhile. 

Don and I work as volunteers at the Concord Senior Center and of course for our Mended Hearts Visitation Program.   I have always wanted to do volunteer work in a hospital and that is exactly what I am doing.