JoAnne Lynn Mignano

Feb 23, 1961 -

May 17, 2021

JoAnne Lynn Mignano, 60, of Wasilla, Alaska, walked on into glory on May 17, 2021. She was born to parents Allen Prosser and Evelyn Jones on Feb. 23, 1961, at the Alaska Native Services building on 3rd Ave. in Anchorage, Alaska, during a time when 2 lb. very premature babies were unlikely to survive. Yet, from that first breath JoAnne had a tenacity, perseverance and strength of spirit that persisted across her life. Fittingly, she was named JoAnne after her father's scrappy and beloved childhood doll.

JoAnne attended East High School in Anchorage, and was savvily and illegally employed at 16 years old at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. During her employment she managed to thwart an armed robbery by locking herself in the vault. She went on to use her ingenuity and creativity as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines and as the co-owner of Jerry's Fireworks in Houston, Alaska. As much as she could light up a room, put a smile on a face and quickly make a friend, she was able to serve the public by lighting up the sky and creating fun and happiness for many. We like to remember her in this way: a beautiful burst of color that when witnessed filled the heart with joy and the mind with awe. Her life truly was worthy to behold.

The loves of JoAnne's life were her children and grandchild. She would tell anyone who would listen how proud of them she was. She first shared her life with her high school sweetheart and first husband Robert Galvan, with whom she had two children. Then in her 30s, she met and married Jerry Mignano, with whom she had one child. She blessed her children with many valuable lessons and advice over the years, among them: pet the stray cat, the joy outweighs the risk of ringworm; laugh, laugh, laugh; put jam on top of your grilled cheese - trust her, it's tasty; fight for what you believe is right. JoAnne was an incredible cook who made the best pan-fried chicken and gravy; she loved to watch scary movies and true crime shows; and she was an adoptive mother and grandmother to many neighborhood children. She was a proud Alaska Native woman and CIRI shareholder.

JoAnne was preceded in death by her father; mother; son, Bobby Galvan; sister, Susie Cummins; and brothers, Danny, Herbert and Carl Ritter. She will be buried directly next to her beloved son Bobby.

JoAnne is survived by her daughter, Maria Crouch (Dean) and grandson Bodhi of East Haven, Conn.; daughter, Christie Brumbaugh (Zack) of Wasilla; sister, Gloria Sheehan (Gene) of Anchorage; sister, Carol Ritter of Spokane, Wash.; uncle, Robert Rude (Virginia) of Eagle River; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear lifelong friends.

A viewing at 2 p.m. and service at 3 p.m. will be held on Friday, May 28, 2021, at Legacy Funeral Home, Heritage Chapel, 440 East Klatt Road in Anchorage. The burial will be held at 5 p.m. at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, 535 East 9th Avenue in Anchorage.