Daily Sitka Sentinel

Joyce Penman

 

Joyce Penman

Joyce Penman, 89, a longtime resident of Alaska and Washington, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 14, 2018, in Auburn, Washington.

She was born Joyce Colleen Crippes in 1928 in Dubuque, Iowa, to Lawrence and Barbara Crippes. When she was in her early teens her family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. She met John Penman while attending high school there, and they were married in August of 1945 upon his return from service as a Marine in World War II.

They moved to southern California in 1953, and then in 1960 they relocated to Sitka, where John worked at Alaska Lumber and Pulp. They lived here 23 years, becoming fixtures in the community where her homemade Christmas cookies were a favorite of family and friends.

Joyce was also an active volunteer in the local Civil Air Patrol (CAP), where she participated in searches and even learned how to fly small planes.

When John retired in 1983, they left Sitka to see the country in their Airstream travel trailer, and later an Airstream motorhome. Sadly, only two years into their adventures, John had a stroke while driving their motorhome through Canada en route to Sitka and passed away in May 1985.  

After losing her husband, Joyce moved to Enumclaw, Washington, to live with her daughter, Linda, and family on their farm. When Joyce wasn’t helping take care of the many animals, she continued to travel with family and friends around the country, usually in her red Chrysler 300 with the license plate “Olwomn.” 

In 1992, Joyce moved to Stanwood, Washington, to be with a longtime friend, Carl Munson, who had lost his wife years earlier. Carl passed away in 2013, and while she loved living in the small house she had shared there with Carl, she eventually moved to a senior apartment complex in Auburn the summer of 2017.

During this time she was a very active member (and officer) of the local Alaska Yukon Pioneers chapter, where she made many friends and traveled to a large number of International Sourdough Reunions, her last being San Diego in September 2017. Her monthly AYP newsletters were eagerly anticipated by all to get the latest news on members and their stories.

A huge Seattle Mariners baseball fan, she was selected to be an honorary groundskeeper during a game in June of 2010.

Joyce was also an active and accomplished bowler for many, many, years, and personally participated in 33 annual Women’s Bowling Conference Championships in numerous cities across the country.

She spent her final weeks in a senior care facility in Puyallup, Washington, where she finally lost her long and courageous battle with melanoma cancer, passing away the day after Mother’s Day, the same day as her husband, 33 years earlier.

Her children, their spouses, many of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and family friends were able to visit and spend a great deal of time with her in the months and weeks before her death.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her five brothers, John, Jerry, Adrian, Bob and Ray; and her older sister Margaret.

She is survived by her younger sister Pearl Ann Crippes of Santa Barbara, California; her three children, John Penman (LeeAnn) of Madison, Alabama, Linda Brotzman (Jon) of Yakima, Washington, and Mike Penman of Bonney Lake, Washington; grandchildren Sheila McGraw, Lisa Gogal, Christi Cappelletti, Kerry Watkins, Michael Penman, and Kyle Penman; great-grandchildren Conner Cappelletti, Kristin Gogal, Cale Cappelletti, Johnny Gogal, Hailey Penman, Joseph Gogal, Casen Cappelletti, Brendan Gogal, Madelyn Penman, Lauren Gogal, Camden Cappelletti, Noah Penman, Justin Gogal, and Ruby Watkins; and great-great-granddaughter, Riley Cappelletti.

Per Joyce’s wishes, there will be no memorial or funeral service. She will be cremated and her family will determine where to spread the ashes at a later date.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name to a cancer charity of choice.