Joan Kohrman Addison

Joan Ellen Kohrman Addison, 88, passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2025, in Houston, Texas. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 3, 1937 to Elsie M and George E Kohrman. Joan was a woman of many chapters, each defined by her family, her adventurous spirit, and her genuine love for bringing people together.

Joan started her education in Missouri, but moved to Michigan when her father took a job in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan College (now Western Michigan University). She then completed her schooling at Kalamazoo State High before receiving an RN degree from the University of Michigan. After graduating she taught at the Bronson School of Nursing. On Sept 4 1959 she married her life partner Stayton Douglas Addison.

While Joan spent the early part of her life as a nurse—hanging up her scrubs in 1978—many will remember her most fondly for her role as the consummate hostess at the resorts her husband, Stayton managed. Together, they welcomed special guests with a grace and warmth that made everyone feel like a VIP. Whether she was organizing a dinner or ensuring a guest felt right at home, Joan had a gift for hospitality. One of her highlights was welcoming Princess Diana and Prince Charles to one of Stayton’s resorts, the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL.

When she wasn't hosting, Joan was often on the move. She and Stayton loved nothing more than hitting the open road in their RV, exploring the country one mile at a time. These trips weren't just for the scenery; they were detective missions. Together, they spent years researching family genealogy, meticulously piecing together the Addison and Kohrman family trees and preserving stories for the generations to follow. These trips included taking Joan’s father on a trip to Germany to research where the Kohrman family lived before coming to the USA.

Not only did she find a lot of family members she also found many new friends. Near the end of this journey, she was a Regent of a Local Chapter of the DAR in California.

Joan was preceded in death in 2012 by her partner in these adventures, Stayton.

She leaves behind a family who will carry her stories forward: her two sons, Stayton D (Skip) Addison, Jr (and wife Katie) and Rodger Addison (and wife Julie); and her cherished grandchildren, John Patrick (JP), Rebecca, Caroline, and James. Her surviving brothers are Robert E and George R Kohrman.

She was a woman who knew the value of a good story, a well-planned trip, and a warm welcome. Her legacy lives on in the family history she worked so hard to document and the memories of the many guests she hosted over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Joan’s memory be made to the Gasconade County Historical Society at https://www.gasconadecountyhistoricalsociety.com/.