Obituary of Joanne C. Lundgren

Joanne C. Lundgren, 87, of 45 Willow Ave., Jamestown, NY, was born August 23rd, 1930, to Walter C. and Gertrude Bloomquist. Joanne proudly still resided in the house she was born in at the time of her passing prior to her hospitalization and passing at UPMC Hamot, Erie PA. A Jamestown High School graduate, class of '48, Joanne remained very active and involved in her class Reunion Club. She enjoyed helping to organize class reunions over the last 69 years up to and including 2017. She took great pride and endless satisfaction from her role of keeping treasured classmates connected. Joanne was dedicated to her career. Early on, she worked in the front office at Metropolitan Life Insurance. While there she befriended a group of women who affectionately referred to themselves as the "Met Girls", regularly meeting for lunch decades after leaving Met Life to raise children. She worked part time at Watson's Manufacturing when her children were young. She also sold Avon. When she went back to work full time, Joanne became financial secretary for First Lutheran Church. During her tenure, she quickly became an indispensable member of the office staff of her beloved church. She frequently spoke of her many friends at First Lutheran and enjoyed participating in numerous activities, drives, fund raisers and outreach initiatives to help both her church and community. After retiring from First Lutheran, Joanne began working at Peterson's Farm Market as a Swedish Food Specialist/clerk and became a fixture at the the counter, sharing recipes and creating friendships with visitors who would come to the Market from all over the country. On any given day and no matter how busy the market, she always had a line of customers who wanted to share their news and give her the opportunity to get updates on their lives. She retired at 80 years of age, and it was bittersweet for her, as she so much enjoyed working there. Driven by her love of community and social interaction, Joanne was a member of a plethora of social clubs and was a frequent patron to each one. She will be greatly missed by fellow members of the Viking Lodge, Thule Lodge, Norden Women's Club, Mozart Club, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, American Legion Auxiliary of Frewsburg, numerous clubs and organizations within First Lutheran including W.E.L.C.A., Ladies Aid, Kuples and Singles Club, Gustavus Adolphus Children's Home Auxiliary, and Lutheran Retirement Home Auxiliary. Joanne was a dedicated Christian and had a strong faith in God. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great aunt. Proud to be a Jamestown native, she spent her life advocating for her beloved community and church in any way she was able. Through her constant efforts, Joanne became well known to many throughout the region and her smile and warm demeanor have brightened innumerable people's lives. She was always ready to make a rice pudding for those in need. Her baking skills were legendary, especially the pies that she provided to innumerable social gatherings. Joanne is survived by her son, Jarrett Lundgren of Lakewood, NY, her daughter, Janell Lundgren, MD (Jeff) of Cincinnati, OH, grandsons Jeremy White of Kennedy, NY, Joshua Lundgren-Dolan (Kelli) of Milwaukee, WI, two great granddaughters, and her nieces Karen (Lance) Erickson of California, Becky Bloomquist of Jamestown, NY, and Kerrin Bloomquist of Jamestown, NY, her dear cousin Marilyn Palmquist of Lakewood, NY, and many more great nieces and great nephews. She was helped immensely in her later years by Marcia Rupp, her close friend and care-giver with whom she had a very special bond. Last, but not least, her cherished Himalayan Longhaired Seal Point cat Flicka, her day-to-day companion. Besides her parents, Joanne is preceded in death by her husband, Howard A. Lundgren, whom she married on April 15, 1951, and who passed on October 9th, 2011; a brother, Sherwood "Toey" Bloomquist; a sister, Virginia "Gig" Hagstrom; and her nephews, Randall Bloomquist and Jeffrey Bloomquist. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in First Lutheran Church. Rev. Daniel Nagle will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the day of the service in the Fellowship Room of the church. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, 120 Chandler Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.