Joanne Kaiser

Feb 5, 1947 -

Jun 20, 2021

Joanne Kaiser, 74, died at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 20, 2021, from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. The second of four children, she was born on Feb. 5, 1947, her father's birthday, to Anita and John Kane in Orange, Calif. The family spent Joanne's early years farming in the Sacramento Valley, ultimately settling in Yolo County in the historic Elkhorn District along the Sacramento River. She graduated from Woodland High School in 1965.

Joanne married Richard "Dick" Kaiser in 1967, in Sacramento, Calif. In 1970, she and Dick moved to Juneau, Alaska, beginning her lifelong Alaska adventure. In 1972, she eagerly joined Dick, her brother Tom and his partner, Mary Collins, in purchasing the historic Richardson Roadhouse on the Richardson Highway. Though this venture was short lived, it was here that Joanne learned the ways of living in rural Alaska, remodeling parts of the roadhouse on her own and "making do" the Alaska way.

Joanne went on to have many other life experiences throughout Alaska, living in Juneau, Fairbanks, St. Mary's and Anchorage. Her many jobs included bookkeeper, police dispatcher, taxi driver and flight attendant.

In 1976, Joanne welcomed her daughter, Jessica, into the world. After a short sabbatical from Alaska in 1978-1981, when she moved to San Diego, Calif., she returned to Anchorage where she met and married Bill Fleming Sr. She and Bill became parents to twin daughters, Julia and Christine in 1982.

While in San Diego, Joanne began studies to obtain a college degree; she completed her education at UAA after returning to Alaska. She graduated with the first Civil Engineering District of the Corps of Engineers, then the Soil Conservation Service.

A diagnosis of MS forced her early retirement, and her remaining 30-plus years were spent living with this relentless disease. With impressive resiliency, she managed to appreciate each day as an adventure, despite her physical condition. She was the center of her world of her family and friends, never leaving to chance what she could "engineer" to be better.

Joanne was preceded in death by her father, Joh Kane; and sister, Terri Humphrey. She is survived by her daughters, Jessica Kasier, Christine Fleming and Julia Fleming (Andy Post); mother, Anita Kane; sister, Janice McDonald; brother, Tom Humphrey; grandchildren, Taylor and Chloe Farrell and Mabel Post; special friends, Phil Morrow and Ed Ezzell; and friends too many to list scattered throughout the county.

The family would like to acknowledge Joanne's many caregivers over the years, especially partners Ed Ezzell and Phil Morrow, who steadfastly provided loving care and friendship for over 30 years. We are forever grateful.

Joanne's legacy is that she was an exceptionally kind and generous human being. She accepted people as they are and supported causes she believed in. She was a doer not a dreamer. In remembering her, please take time to extend a helping hand to someone in need or make a donation to a cause you believe in. Donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in her honor would be appreciated.

No formal service is planned but a Celebration of Life will be held on Aug. 14, 2021, from 3-5 p.m., at Gallo's Mexican Restaurant, 8311 Artic Boulevard in Anchorage.