JoAnn Holmes

July 4, 1944 – October 30, 2025

JoAnn Holmes danced through life with a quick wit, a generous heart, and a fierce love for her family. Born on Independence Day in Lewiston, Idaho, she carried that spark with her always—independent, spirited.

She married Larry Holmes on December 24, 1986, beginning a partnership rooted in friendship. Together they built a life filled with family, love, and enduring devotion. JoAnn was also previously married to Gary McGinnis, with whom she shared many meaningful years before his passing in 1982.

JoAnn was the heartbeat of her home and the steady light for those around her. She was a natural caregiver—instinctively generous, deeply intuitive, and always ready with comfort. Children gravitated to her, drawn by her warmth and playful wisdom, and she led with a presence that was both commanding and kind. JoAnn formed deep, lasting bonds with those she loved—connections built on trust, laughter, and the kind of loyalty that never wavered. She was quick-witted and authentically herself— the Queen, in the best sense of the word.

JoAnn was a remarkable mother—not only to her daughter, but to anyone who needed one. She had a way of making people feel held, understood, and fiercely protected. Her love was never performative; it was woven into everyday gestures, quiet sacrifices, and the kind of presence that made you believe everything would be okay. To be mothered by JoAnn was to be truly known—and truly loved.

JoAnn had a profound tenderness for animals, treating each one with the same care and dignity she offered the people she loved.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Holmes; her daughter, Melinda Rogers Rutzer; her son-in-law, Leland Rutzer; and her grandsons, Corbin Rogers and Cannon Rutzer. Beyond her immediate family, JoAnn was a guiding light to many nieces, nephews and their children.

JoAnn’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched—with every story told, every laugh shared, and every act of unconditional love passed down through generations. Her presence was a gift: tender, bold, and unforgettable. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who were lucky enough to know her.