Joanne Sue "MamaJo" Lemmerman

May 10, 1955 -

Oct 7, 2025

Joanne (nee Winburn) passed away peacefully at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, with her family at her side. Joanne was born in Adrian, Mich., moved to Colorado when she was 2, and grew up a lifelong Broncos fan. She graduated from Northglenn High School in 1973. She worked various jobs in Denver, ending up with ARCO's Coal Division when she took a vacation to Alaska in 1980. She liked it enough to move here the same year. She met her future husband, Karl Lemmerman, while working for ARCO Exploration Co. They were married in 1982 in Anchorage. Jo then went to work for the newly opened Alaska office of Phillips Minerals where she worked until the office closed. Jo and Karl raised two wonderful daughters while Jo attended classes at UAA, eventually earning an associates degree in business. Jo volunteered at Huffman Elementary throughout her daughters time there, and in 1996 was awarded the Excellence for Children award from the Alaska and Huffman PTAs for her service. She, almost single-handedly, raised the funds and provided the labor required for the re-building of the Huffman Elementary playground. While her girls attended colleges outside, Jo worked for Assets Inc., providing asset management for individuals with disabilities.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Karl; daughters, Angela (Chris) Comstock and Julia (Simon) Wigren; grandchildren, Janice, Elizabeth and Marshall Comstock and Eleanor and Patrick Wigren; brother, Chuck (Terri) Winburn; and sister, Barbara (Joe) Kelemen. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her; sister, cousin, wife, mother, grandmother.

Scattering of her remains to be held later, at a to-be-determined date.