Joan Repstine

On November 20, 1930 Phyllis Joan Repstine was born to Alberta Alexander and Merwin French. She was the second of four girls: Betty, Joan, Dorothy, and Karen. Joan grew up in a small town in Kansas by the name of Colwich. She was born in the beginning of the Great Depression; therefore she grew up very poor. Meals consisted of bread, goulash, hash, or canned goods; her clothes consisted of only three dresses and one pair of shoes a year. At Christmas time there was usually one toy to be shared among all the girls. Her experiences during the depression molded her into the woman, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother she became.

Joan was married to Sargent Melvin Louis Repstine (Fritz) on February 15, 1946 at the young age of 16; they held a small ceremony in Wichita, KS. Joan and Melvin met at a USO dance where Melvin literally swept her off her feet. As husband and wife they grew a family together consisting of six children: Cheryl, Robert, Louis, (twins) Brenda and Brent, and finally Michelle. They eventually moved their growing family to Colorado and raised their children in Lakewood. Joan devoted the majority of her time to raising her family. As they settled into Colorado they converted to Lutheranism and became heavily involved at Atonement Lutheran Church. This began a family tradition: all of Joan and Melvin’s grandchildren were baptized at Atonement and even some of her great grandchildren. She had 14 grandchildren: Dawn, Brian, Cassandera, Brenden, Bryan, Bridget, Rebecca, Alicia, Todd, Adam, Amy, Katie, Autumn, Connor, and Arrowyn; as well as 13 great grandchildren: Katie, Justin, Natasha, Destiny, Shelby, Wyatt, Brayden, Addyson, Davis, Gabryel, Isabella, Keagan, Lilah and one on the way. Joan was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and an exceptional great grandmother. In her later years, her family is what kept her going.

Joan can best be described as smart, strong, conservative, independent, an amazing dancer and a woman of faith. She loved to shop, spend time with her family, go to church, travel, and cook. Throughout her life she faced many trails and storms, but her resilient spirit always pushed her through knowing that through trials we find our pathways to peace. She will be missed, cherished, loved, and never forgotten.

82, passed away on June 15, 2013 in Lakewood, Colorado. She is survived by her loving family; daughter Cheryl Johnson, sons; Robert &(Mary Susan) Repstine, Louis Repstine, Brent &(Deanna) Repstine, daughter Brenda Pomranka, daughter Michelle &(Matthew Cherry) Repstine, sister Dorothy Coleman, also 14 grandchildren, and 13 great granchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Repstine, sisters Betty Pierce, and Karen Felkner.

Visitation Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 3pm to 7pm at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary. Her family will be celebrating her life at 3pm at the start of the visitation. Joan will be laid to rest at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery.