JoAnne Kochevar, age 90, passed away peacefully at The Mission at Castle Rock in Green River on Monday, July 13, with her daughter by her side. She was born on Feb. 16, 1936, in Kemmerer, the daughter of Rudolph and Mary Koci.
JoAnne attended schools in Frontier and Kemmerer and graduated in 1954. She worked as a telephone operator in the years following graduation.
She married her high school sweetheart, Jim Kochevar, on March 4, 1956. While Jim was enlisted in the Army, they briefly moved to Pennsylvania, where they welcomed a daughter, Laurie. After returning to Kemmerer they had a son, Russell. JoAnne was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and family always came first.
Throughout her life, JoAnne did many things, including being a devoted stay-at-home mom for her children. Once both children were in school she worked for a couple of local businesses in Kemmerer and spent many years working for the Lincoln County Treasurer’s Office from which she retired.
JoAnne loved the outdoors and enjoyed spending time camping, fishing and riding snowmachines throughout the Fontenelle and Hams Fork valley. She enjoyed doing cross-stitch and won several ribbons at the Lincoln County Fair.
Later in her life she spent many summers with her family at her favorite place in the world that she and her family fondly call “The Beav.” She loved playing dominoes and Yahtzee whenever family visited or was camping at The Beav.
JoAnne is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, James; her parents; a sister, Joyce; and a brother, Rudy.
She is survived by a sister, Judy; her daughter, Laurie (Kim) McKee; son, Russell (Anne) Kochevar; grandchildren, Candy (Shad) Leggett, Nicki (Kade) Minchow, Jackson, Harrison and Alyssa Kochevar; along with great-grandchildren, Alexis and Josilyn Leggett.
JoAnne was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Lincoln County Snowbears, and Berta A. Penny United Methodist Church.
JoAnne will be missed so much but always remembered for her kindness and devotion to her family.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 23.
