Joann "JoAlice" Alice Lohr
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Joann's obituary
🌹 In Loving Memory of Joann Alice Lohr
May 9, 1939 – September 19, 2025
Joann Alice Lohr, age 86, peacefully transitioned into spirit on September 19, 2025, in Florence, Arizona. A devoted mother, grandmother, and cherished friend, Joann’s life was a radiant tapestry woven with compassion, grace, and unwavering love.
🌸 Early Life & Education
Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Joann was the treasured only child of Agnes Lucille and Robert Edward Lohr. She spent her early years in East Moline, Illinois, where her fondest memories were summers and weekends on her grandparents' farm—delighting in milking cows (for the kittens, of course) and calling in the hogs.
Later, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona, where Joann played on the varsity tennis team and graduated from Mesa High School. She earned her nursing credentials from Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.
đź’‰ Career & Service
Joann’s nursing career spanned surgical units, school nursing, and psychiatric care. She served communities in Illinois, Arizona, and California—always with a gentle touch and a compassionate heart.
Her philanthropic spirit helped transform Florence’s historic bakery into a public library, earning her multiple community honors, including Business and Professional Woman of the Year.
🎶 Creativity & Community
Joann was a gifted pianist and singer, founding the youth choir at Florence Presbyterian Church and singing in the adult choir. She taught 4-H, gave swim lessons at home (despite her own fear of the water), and volunteered tirelessly—raising funds for activities like gymnastics and 8th-grade field trips to Disneyland, driving to gymnastics conventions, volunteering in classrooms, keeping sports stats, and chaperoning countless school field trips.
She loved making matching outfits for her little girls, and on Easter Sunday they could be seen, along with their mom—also in matching attire—at Florence Presbyterian Church. (This was carefully timed to give the Easter Bunny enough time to hide the eggs!)
🏞️ Adventures & Joy
Joann embraced life with enthusiasm. Her greatest joy was being a mother, wife, and grandmother, and spending time with close friends. With her first husband and daughters, she enjoyed river rafting, skiing, tennis, board games, horseback riding, baking, cooking, sharing recipes, entertaining, running, flying their small plane and traveling. In her second marriage, they planned and enjoyed many road trips together, and she cherished her time in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.
In her later years, she found joy in jigsaw puzzles, birdwatching, and sunsets—both in New England and Arizona. Clam chowder and mango anything became her favorite food, ice cream her favorite sweet and sunset remained her favorite time of day.
She never missed a game, meet, recital, or honor ceremony for her daughters—and worked just as hard to do the same for her grandchildren. Joann made every holiday special, never missing a birthday or anniversary, and would travel many miles to celebrate each milestone. On birthdays, she would let each of us choose our favorite meal for her to cook—a tradition we all loved.
đź’– Family & Legacy
Joann was a devoted mother to Amy and Rebecca (George), and a loving grandmother to Amy's children Maxwell (Cori), Sloane, and Rebecc'a children Jorge, Joaquin, and Justine.
She is predeceased by her parents Agnes and Robert Lohr, her first husband Dr. Robert L. Hyde, and her sweet granddaughter Emma Hyde Sherman—our little hummingbird.
Her love, intuition, kindness, and generosity will live on through her family and all who knew her.
🌟 Final Years & Remembrance
In 2024, Joann made the heartfelt decision to leave Green Valley, AZ, and move in with her eldest daughter to enjoy the sea and four seasons on the New England seacoast. It was also chance to spend time with her East Coast grandchildren, Max (Cori) and Sloane.
She enjoyed pull tabs at the Elks Club, attended painting and art classes, discovered a new passion—Mexican Train (which she played weekly at the Senior Center and with us at home)—and traveled with us to the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the summer of 2024. She found peace in the quiet snowfall and the return to the four seasons she had known in her youth.
Joann quickly made new friends and stayed connected with her longtime friends—thanks to her iPhone (she and Siri eventually figured it out!).
In May 2025, Joann and Amy returned to Arizona to spend time with Rebecca and her family, reconnecting with her beloved girlfriends Anita VanWagoner and Celeste Mandell, and catching up with Roy Smith.
Even through significant health challenges—including a twice-broken hip in July and August—Joann never, ever gave up. She remained spirited, full of love, and her smile lit up every room.
Joann adored animals. Her home was a haven for pets while her children grew up in Florence, and right to the end, she had a devoted companion—Amy’s little dog, Bentley—who never left her side.
Our friends called her the “cool mom.” Many remember being served tuna sandwiches or having breakfast by the pool. She introduced us to Elvis, The Beatles, and cherished evenings watching Sonny and Cher and Laugh-In. She gave us the joy of music, curiosity, and the example of dignity and grace.
There are endless memories that will live on beyond her earthly presence—forever in our hearts.
Godspeed, Mamasan. Until we meet again, please continue to guide us with your spirit and love from above.
🕊️ Memorial Service
Wednesday, in the garden, 5:00 p.m.
Desert Hope Presbyterian Church
225 E. Butte Ave., Florence, AZ
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Audubon Society—a fitting tribute to her love of nature and birds.
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