JoAnn Marie Chase

JoAnn Marie Chase passed away peacefully on January 26th, 2023.  JoAnn was born on July 11, 1936, to George Chick and Marie Fredrich in Hammond Indiana. Weathered through a combination of years and circumstances, JoAnn endured life successfully.  She was well educated and groomed to be a career woman.

JoAnn married young to Robert Hugh Chase on November 1st, 1958. After being married a few years, JoAnn gave birth to two beautiful twins Carnot Renee and Bret Allen, on March 2nd, 1961. Her devotion and determination to raise her family kept her a busy housewife, leaving no time to follow her career. Living in New York, she adored her husband, children, family, and friends and prioritized her role as a social butterfly in Olean's community. JoAnn had no issues sporting nice dresses, high heels, and pretty hair styles. Her gentle brown eyes showed a strong will in all she did, including acting as the president of the women's club, member of the hospital board, member of the PTA, and hostess to many functions within the town.

However, all that changed in 1981 when the family moved to Wyoming. Moving to the wild west changed JoAnn’s lifestyle. Her family was now grown and raised so her devotion and determination took a different path. You no longer saw her in dresses, she dumped them for blue jeans, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. Her hair turned gray and is often tussle from the wind.  Her skin has pruned from the endless hours in the sun.  She no longer attended society's affairs, but tended to her numerous animals. JoAnn's overwhelming compassion to save stray and abandoned animals was amazing. She devoted day after day feeding bunches of cats, wild mustangs, quarter horses, geese, ducks, raccoons, and even a skunk or two. She would doctor and groom her many "pets," while spending endless hours cleaning up their messes. Most times giving her all, not knowing when to quit she would collapse with exhaustion; although, after a day or two, JoAnn would always rally back with a renewed spirit.

She was a survivor, giving each situation placed in front of her, her best. She would never give up or quit. JoAnn is survived by her son Bret Chase; her son in law Billy Kunz; her granddaughter, May Chase, her grandson Joey Bearnson; her granddaughter Hallie Bearnson and spouse Todd Wood; and their daughter Faythe Wood. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert H. Chase and her daughter Carnot Bearnson. JoAnn, Mom, Grandma, Granny, GG was an amazing woman we will never forget and will forever rest in our hearts.