Joan Marie Eich

Joan M. Eich passed away on April 19, 2020 after months of intense medical complications. She died at home in peace with family after being released from the hospital with its coronavirus-no-visitor restrictions two days earlier. Ravaged by acute myeloid leukemia and reaction to its treatment, her wonderful, loving heart just finally gave out. Joan was 78 years old, born in Duluth, Minnesota on December 14, 1941. An incredibly special lady, she will be dearly missed!

A “successful” student of Child Development at the Univ of Calif-Berkeley with three children, Joan devoted her life to finding timely solutions for the many medical challenges facing the family over the years. To pursue more medical knowledge later in life, she returned to school at Southwestern Univ and graduated from Transylvania Univ in pre-med. She then continued on through many moves with advanced work at Univ of Kentucky and Univ of Texas-San Antonio before completing at Univ of Colorado School of Medicine. She went on to do medical research with the American Red Cross in Maryland and hospitals across the country.

Joan loved to sing and was a part of choirs in CA, TX, KY, MD, NE, and CO. Her love of music led her through various roles including board president of the Mendocino Music Festival for several years in CA. She served in many volunteer capacities in the various communities where she lived. Her love of games took her into many settings with neighbors and friends, most recently in Anthem Ranch, CO. Her fascination with Liberty wooden jigsaw puzzles provided great enjoyment and left a wall of 17 framed Vincent Van Gogh masterpieces (average of 490 pieces each) for the family to enjoy.

Travel was a big part of her life (all 50 states, Canada, South America, national parks, island paradises, all of Europe multiple times, ocean and river cruises, and what she found to be the most interesting parts of the other continents). Being an avid reader, her Kindle also became a close companion in her later life.

Joan is being cremated per her wishes. A future Celebration of her Life will be arranged when feasible and safe. A memorial will be conducted with the immediate family when her ashes, along with her husband’s, are used in the planting of a blue spruce tree at a suitable spot of family choosing.

Joan is survived by Ron Eich, her husband of 59 years, Shari Meyer, daughter, Brian Eich and Keith Eich, sons, all now in Broomfield/Westminster, CO and Beverly Tucker, sister in Antioch, CA.; plus numerous nieces and nephews and the spouses of her expanded family. She joins her parents, George and Mary Stiles, and her brother Dean Stiles in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that with so many worthy charities, that any donations in her honor be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605 (www.LLS.org).