Lewison Tribune, April 24, 2016---Joan Ann Connell, 82, of Asotin, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 11, 2016, surrounded by her devoted family.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Richard Connell, originally of Muscatine, Iowa, in 2006.

Born Nov. 15, 1933, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of John August and Loretta Emma Gretter Wohlgemuth, Joan was the fifth of 12 children.

Joan attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, then joined the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, serving in North Africa for 18 months. During this time, her service and pleasure travel took her to Italy, Spain and France, including exotic places such as Casablanca and Old Tangiers. After returning stateside, she attended flight nursing school in San Antonio and, after graduation, served for six years in the Overseas Aero-Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, flying patients out of Japan and Hawaii. Joan attained the rank of captain.

While stationed in California, Joan met her husband, Tom. The couple married Nov. 10, 1962, at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. Joan shared with family that her courtship with Tom was brief because the Cuban Missile Crisis split the couple for a time and, upon reuniting, they married immediately. They settled in Simi Valley, Calif., where Joan resumed her lifelong passion for nursing at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital as a civilian. Joan wore many hats as a nurse, including medical-surgical, intensive care and nursing supervisor; nonetheless, she returned to her passion of emergency nursing, where she continued to work until retirement. Tom and Joan eventually migrated to Huntington Beach, Calif., where Joan worked at Hoag Memorial and Fountain Valley hospitals. Southern California was a great place for this lucky couple, as Las Vegas and Bullhead City, Ariz., were never too far away.

Joan and Tom also started, and raised, their family in Simi Valley. Patrick, their eldest, was soon joined by fraternal twins Sean and Sheila.

Joan and Tom eventually moved to Asotin to be near most of the grandchildren. They were closely involved in all family activities and always a great help to Sheila and husband Tim while they were raising their young family. Never willing to remain still for long, however, they traveled around the country in their recreational vehicle, visited their sons in Virginia and Hawaii and always made time to visit friends along the way. They also traveled internationally with their children and grandchildren. After Tom's passing, Joan remained involved in her grandchildren's daily activities and shared their milestones. In October 2015, Joan moved to Evergreen Estates in Clarkston. At the time of her passing, Joan was attended by Patrick, Sean and Sheila. During her final days, she also had assistance from daughter-in-law Julia, grandson Nicholas, son-in-law Tim, and granddaughters Celeste and Gabrielle.

Long known for her kindness, patience and sense of humor, she also had many interests including a love of reading, puzzles, playing host to lively family card games, "Jeopardy," and was a great fan of Gonzaga basketball, Steelers football and Major League Baseball. Joan also enjoyed bingo with children and grandchildren in tow, the casino and trips with her dear friends to Coeur d'Alene.

Joan is survived by her three children, Patrick (Julia) of Arlington, Va., Sean (Harumi) of Honolulu, and Sheila Flock (Timothy) of Clarkston; six grandchildren, Ashley, Celeste, Timothy, Nicholas, Marino and Gabrielle; five siblings, Eleanor, Margaret, Claudia, Ruth and Donald; and numerous other relatives and lifelong friends.

Besides her beloved husband, Tom, Joan was preceded in death by her parents; twin brother John; siblings Donna and Patricia; and triplets Judy, Janet and Joyce.

A funeral Mass will be held at a later date for Joan and Tom to be interred together at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clarkston.

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Joan Ann Wohlgemuth Connell's husband died in 2006:

Muscatine Journal (Muscatine, IA)- CLARKSTON, Wash. -- Thomas Richard Connell, 68, of Asotin, Wash., left us peacefully on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 2006 to celebrate the Lord's birth in Heaven.

A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Parish. Rev. Tom Connolly will officiate. Visitation will be at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Hospice, Clarkston, Wash. 99403.

Mr. Connell was born on July 11, 1938, in Muscatine to Cornelius N. Connell and Lucille A. McFadden, who preceded him in death. The second of five children, he grew up in Iowa but settled in California for most of his adult life. He loved the beach and warm weather.

He married Joan A. Wohlgemuth, an RN, on Nov. 10, 1962, at Luke AFB outside Pheonix, Ariz. They had three children.

After honorable discharge from active duty Air Force in 1960, he joined the California Air National Guard in Van Nuys as a civil service employee and guardsman until 1985, achieving the rank of SMSGT. Tom and Joan made their home in Simi Valley. His second career was in Long Beach, Calif., with McDonald Douglas/Boeing as a flight crew trainer, where he tested the C-17 aircraft until retirement in 2001. He really loved the relocation to Huntington Beach, Calif., however after retiring and traveling in their motorhome, Tom and Joan settled in Asotin, Wash., to be near their daughter, Sheila, and son-in-law Tim, and four of their six grandchildren.

Mr. Connell loved to fly, explore the world over, and bring home exotic 'stuff' from his trips. He held a private pilot's license and certification in instruction and instrumentation. He coached many years of Little League for his son and then again for his granddaughters. He was always a practicing Catholic who remained faithful to the church. Tom also loved to take the camper, his family and a map and travel a passion which continued into retirement. The computer and digital photography kept him busy. He liked to go gambling and play with investments in real estate and stocks. He's going to miss the Bulls and Bears Stock Club of Clarkston!

He is survived by many people who will miss him, his wife Joan Connell of Asotin, son Patrick Connell of Arlington, Va. with wife Julia and grandson, Nicholas; son, Sean Connell of Honolulu, Hi., with wife Harumi and granddaughter, Marino; and daughter Sheila Flock of Clarkston, Wash., and husband Timothy and grandchildren Ashley, Celeste, Timothy and Gabrielle. He also leaves his siblings, Carolyn Kurriger and husband Frank of Tacoma, Wash.; Sr. Catherine Connell, SSS, of Sacramento, Calif., David Connell and wife Barb of Davenport, and Mary Stoutenberg and late husband Dale, of Oxnard, Calif. He had the chance to personally say goodbye to these people and many more, which led to a very peaceful death.

Tom's grandchildren found him passionate in his ideas, silly in his nicknames (but he wouldn't change them), and extremely proud of their accomplishments. Moreover they learned the value of family, even when distance separates you. Grandpa, we will miss you very much.