Joanne Marie Hallwachs passed away at home February 17, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Born on November 23, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joanne is survived by her husband Donald, her precious children, Catherine, Donald, Judith, Audrey and seven grandchildren (William, Gina, Andrew, Frances, Max, Taylor, and Carly).

Joanne sincerely cared for her family, friends and community and was a person who thrived doing volunteer activities. She energetically and happily donated her time to conduct elementary school projects when her children were young, and then becoming a volunteer at the Santa Barbara County Hospital managing the gift shop. In her spare time, Joanne earned an A.A. degree in liberal studies from Santa Barbara City College, and then devoted all of her energy to Kmart where she retired in 1992. In 1999, Joanne and her husband relocated to Lompoc, California, where her volunteering energy was one hundred percent concentrated on being the best docent possible at La Purisima Mission. This was her dream volunteer job and Joanne took great pride in conducting student tours and managing the volunteer corps. Relocating to Orcutt, California, Joanne continuing her docent activities at La Purisma Mission and added the Santa Barbara County Food Bank to her list of volunteering jobs.

Joanne loved to travel by automobile, or train to family reunions in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Alberta, Canada. During her retirement, Joanne traveled extensively through the western United States, took an automobile tour of Alaska and the maritime provinces of Canada, including Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Many adventures were shared with no fixed schedule and she heartily ate local foods such as crawfish, cod tongues, a tasteless Canadian potato soup with ham. Joanne enjoyed doing the unplanned and went to all 21 missions in the California mission system. She was very proud of this accomplishment.

Services will be at the Starbucks-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc CA on February 21, 2014 at 11 AM. A private graveside service is planned immediately following completion of the service. A celebration of life luncheon will take place at the Lompoc Elks Lodge at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society.

Joanne was not only the sunshine to her family and others, but a caring volunteer. The family thanks the doctors and nurses who cared for her at the Marian Medical Center. Her husband with much sadness and sorrow at the end of this day says to his beloved wife of 58 plus years "Bye Bye My Love and Hello loneliness."