Joanne Ribble

Joanne E. Ribble, 81, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, May 24, 2012, at the Hiawatha Care Center, Hiawatha. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Joanne's Life from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The funeral service at Grace Episcopal Church and burial at Spring Grove Cemetery will be private. Arrangements are by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her husband, Don; daughter, Elizabeth (Chris) Vahlkamp of St. Louis, Missouri; step-sons, Jeff Ribble of Iowa City and Phil Ribble of Riverside; and a brother, John 'Pete' E. (Barbara) Henderson of Basehor, Kansas. Joanne was born in Fargo, North Dakota on February 25, 1931, to John and Myrtle Henderson. She grew up in St Louis, Missouri, graduated from Normandy High School, and attended Washington University on St. Louis. Joanne received her BFA from American University, and her MFA from The University of Iowa. She worked as a fashion designer in St. Louis, Atlanta, and Chicago, but she never lost sight of her first true passion - painting and drawing. On June 24, 1972, she married Donald G. Ribble and moved to Cedar Rapids. Joanne became an active member of the Cedar Rapids arts community, serving on the Board of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art for 30 years, as well as serving in various volunteer roles with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, the Marvin Cone Club, and the Cedar Rapids Opera Theater. Additionally, she was active in the Cedar Rapids Garden Club, serving in various roles including President, and served as a member of PEO Chapter HJ, a member of the Monday League, and a volunteer at the Brucemore Historical Society. Joanne loved to travel, was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, an avid reader, and an accomplished cook and hostess. She never missed an opportunity to gather friends and family together for good food, great laughs, and the warmth of those she enjoyed spending time with the most. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Barbara Swank. Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.