Joan Ringoen

JOAN RINGOEN

Boulder, Colo.

Longtime Boulder resident Joan Ringoen died Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at Balfour Senior Living in Louisville, Colo. She was 87.

She was born Joan Marie Brandt on April 17, 1929, in Maquoketa, Iowa, the only child of John C. and Marie (Petersen) Brandt. Growing up in Iowa, Joan's family lived in various towns as her dad worked as a civil engineer, building roads for the Iowa Highway Department. She graduated from Cedar Rapids' Franklin High School in 1946. At Coe College in Cedar Rapids, she was president of Chi Omega sorority and graduated with a B.A. in English. She received her master's degree from the University of Iowa in speech pathology. She taught first grade and worked as a speech therapist until she was married.

On June 7, 1953, Joan was united in marriage to Richard Miller Ringoen in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. To this union, three sons were born, David, John and Daniel.

The family came to Colorado in 1960, first to Littleton, then to Boulder. In addition to raising her boys, Joan was involved in Junior League, the Brico Symphony, and skied and played tennis. In Boulder, Joan played bassoon in the Boulder Philharmonic.

In 1974, the family moved to Muncie, Ind. Joan was active in a variety of organizations, including the YMCA and the PBS station, WIPB, home of Bob Ross.

Richard and Joan returned to Boulder in 1993. After his death, she was president of the Boulder Philharmonic's board. She taught English as a second language through First Presbyterian Church in Boulder. She was a member of the CB Chapter of PEO in Boulder. She hiked, enjoyed watercolor painting and sewed special outfits for her grandchildren. Joan loved that all her children lived nearby, and hosted many family gatherings. She loved God, her husband and her family.

Preceding Joan in death were her parents; her husband, Richard; and their son, John.

Surviving family members are her sons, David "Dave" Ringoen and his wife, Kris, and Daniel "Dan" Ringoen and his wife, Heather; and daughter-in-law, Susan Ringoen, all of the Boulder area. She also is survived by nine grandchildren, Jamie Fischer and her husband, Reed, Emily Ringoen, Megan Ringoen, Rahel Ringoen, Metiki Ringoen, Hannah Ringoen, Sarah Ringoen, Nate Ringoen and Josh Ringoen. Her two great-grandchildren are Wren and Jack Fischer.

There will be a memorial service for Joan at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St., Boulder, CO 80302. Burial will be private in Green Mountain Cemetery, Boulder.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Joan's name to either the First Presbyterian Church or the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra.

Friends may share condolences online with the family at www.darrellhowemortuary.com.