Joan Annette Lindemuth

Jun 24, 1936 -

Apr 25, 2026

Joan Annette Lindemuth, much loved wife, mother and grandmother, died on April 25, 2026, in Louisville, Colo. She was 89. A resident of Alaska for 55 years, she was born Joan Annette Kookish in Susquehanna, Pa., at home, attended by her grandmother. She went by Joan Johnson. She graduated from Danville High School in 1954. An excellent student, she was involved in music, basketball, cheerleading and table tennis.

She met her future husband Paul Lindemuth at the roller rink at Knoebels Amusement Park in Central Pennsylvania. He skated up and took her hand without saying a word and they skated round and round. She was smitten but panicked and gave him a fake name. She was no match for his sleuthing skills, however, and they married in 1956 in Danville, Pa. She and Paul had a marriage that showed what true love was.

Prior to their marriage, while her fiance Paul flew C-119s in Greenland and Alaska for the U.S. Air Force, she sought her fortune in New York City, staying at a boarding house and playing guitar in cafes while modeling outfits for fashion buyers. She also attended Mansfield State Teachers College, studying music and math.

She and her husband moved to Alaska in July 1965, driving from the East Coast with three small children and one on the way. A favorite family photo shows Joan in a lampshade hat—1960s fashion!—standing with the kids next to the classic station wagon that took them north. An only child, Joan enjoyed the chaos that her complete family of seven children and nine grandchildren provided. She was known for saying, "All my children are only children," and she loved them each best. Her youthfulness and beauty meant that she was often mistaken for being her children's sister rather than their mother.

She loved her home in Alaska and was constantly on the go—walking, running, hiking, biking, picking blueberries or just enjoying the outdoors. In 2007, she became the first woman over 70 to finish the grueling Mount Marathon race.

Joan was known for her musical talents and passed a love of music on to her family. They all made music together. She taught piano for over 50 years in Anchorage. She also directed the primary children's choir at First Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years and was beloved by generations of kids for her effortless patience and legendary oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

She will be missed, always.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1991 and daughter Laura in 2014. She is survived by six children and their families, including nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on June 3, 2026, at 6 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 616 W 10th Avenue in Anchorage.