Mostly Cloudy, 58° F
(Jan. 26, 1928 - Sept. 15, 2012)
Joan Elaine Kindred died peacefully at Powell Valley Care Center on Sept. 15 at the age of 84.
Joan was born Jan. 26, 1928 to Henry and Alice Schleisman in Carroll, Iowa, the second of three daughters. She graduated from high school in Glidden, Iowa in 1946.
Joan met the love of her life, Gale Kindred, at a rival football game in high school. They were married in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake City, Iowa on Aug. 1, 1949. They moved to Denver, Colo. in 1956.
Denver became their home and the place they would raise their two children, Timothy Josef and Gayla Joan. Joan and her mother attended beauty school together. Besides being a devoted mom and wife, Joan was a telephone operator, beautician, a school lunch lady and a photo and negative retouch artist. She enjoyed gardening, craft projects, cooking, fishing and camping.
Joan’s family was her greatest joy. She loved sharing stories of her youth and she spoke often of the pride she had in her own children. Her retirement years were spent side by side with her husband as they traveled all over the United States, spending extended time in Arizona and in the mountains in Colorado. Later on in her life, she and Gale moved to Powell to be near their son. During this time, she enjoyed visits from their daughter and grandson, Michael, and getting to share in the events of their other grandchildren, Sara and Lindsay.
Although her health failed, she remained positive and had an open heart and was very generous to others in need. Her strong Catholic faith guided and comforted her in all aspects of her life.
Joan is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gale of Powell; son Tim (LeAnne) of Powell; three grandchildren, Michael Donis of Denver, Colo., and Sara and Lindsay Kindred of Powell. She is also survived by her sisters Darlene Margaret (Merlin) Heck of Carroll, Iowa and Donna Mary Sutter of Casa Grande, Ariz., and many nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; daughter and son-in-law, Guy Donis; and her brothers-in-law Ted Sutter and Melvin Clark.
Funeral arrangements are being taken care of by Thompson Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell.
Memorial donations can be made in Joan’s name to Powell Valley Hospice, 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435.
