JoAnn "Jo" Louise Goodwin

JoAnn L. Goodwin, age 95, of Aurora, Colorado passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 19, 2026. “Jo” was born in Superior, Wisconsin on October 19, 1930, to James and Ruth Pederson, the first of two children.

Jo grew up in Wisconsin near her grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins from Superior to Duluth to Minneapolis. It was in Wisconsin as a small child that she played with her invisible friend named “Meenamo.” Her family left the upper Midwest, moving to Great Falls, Montana, for her father’s job. Relocating to another state at the start of high school was challenging, but Montana made a significant impression on her, becoming one of her favorite places. In high school she sang alto in the high school choir, appearing in the musical HMS Pinafore, while also singing in the church choir. In 1948 she graduated from Great Falls High School.

In August 1949, Jo went with her girlfriends to a dance celebrating the grand opening of the Great Falls USO. The future love of her life, Robert Dale “Bob” Goodwin (whom she'd never met) was also there with friends. She ran past him, throwing her purse at him to hold so she could dance with a friend of Bob’s who knew the jitterbug. Bob reported that he then followed her everywhere she went, and soon they were dating. Engaged in December 1949, they were married in June 1950. Bob and Jo often joked that “they said it would never last!” Defying the skeptics, Bob and Jo spent a lifetime in love, celebrating 73 years of marriage on June 4, 2023.

Bob and Jo were married in Great Falls, where Bob was stationed with the Air Force. Their first child, Dale, was born there in March 1951. The Air Force transferred Bob to Washington, DC, where daughter Sheryl was born in December 1953. Next were assignments near Chicago, then Milwaukee, then Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. The family moved to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, in Oscoda, Michigan. Daughter Nancy was born nearby in Tawas City in January 1960. After Wurtsmith, Bob was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. After returning to the States from Clark, the family returned to Wurtsmith for a couple of years. As Bob was nearing retirement, he requested to be stationed in Denver again.

Jo took pride in her job as an Air Force wife and mother of three children, occasionally selling Avon and Tupperware. Her first full-time job was as a dental assistant for Dr. Belchner in Aurora, Colorado. Later she worked in Denver for First Data. After Bob’s 20-year Air Force career, the Goodwins moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Jo worked for First Security and then H&R Block (she loved tax season!). Bob and Jo then moved to Loveland, Colorado, in 2014 to be closer to family and best friends Edna and Reuben Weinmaster (both deceased).

Jo will always be remembered for her abiding faith in God, endless kindness and enduring loyalty. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage, and she often blamed her relentless stubbornness on her Norwegian roots. She was fiercely devoted to her family and loved nothing more than spending time with those she loved. Another love was golf, and she proudly told tales of her “hole in one.” She was also a card shark who loved playing and teaching card games to family and friends. Friends described her as always ready to have fun and always smiling.

Jo's greatest desire for those she loved was for them to love Jesus and to follow in His ways. She told us not to be sad at her passing, and to live good lives.

Jo was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob, and her parents, James and Ruth. She is survived by her three children, Dale (Sharma), Sheryl (Bill) and Nancy (Kirk, deceased), her brother James, eight grandchildren, Cara (David), Megan (Geoff), John (Miriam), James, Claire (Wayne), Emily, Jason and Monica (Fritz), four great grandchildren, Andrew, Nolan, Finley and Tyler (Hayden), and one great-great grandchild, Devyn.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jo's memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org), to Compassion International (compassion.com) or to a charity of your choice.