Joan Sevier Sjostrom, age 89, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2021. She was born November 10, 1931 in Denver, Colorado to Reverend George and Martha Sevier. She married her college sweetheart, Rex William Sjostrom in March of 1952 at her parents’ home in Denver with her father officiating. Rex preceded her in death in 2006.
Joan and Rex moved to an acreage west of Castle Rock in 1968 where they raised their four children. At home, she was responsible for managing the household, horses, chickens, and raising four active children. She worked as a bookkeeper for Fox Drug in Castle Rock for nearly 20 years before becoming co-owner and manager of TravelHaus travel agency for 12 years.
She loved life and was always ready to serve whenever she recognized a need. An avid volunteer, she was recognized in 2005 when Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver declared July 28, 2005, Joan Sjostrom Day in honor of her exemplary service. Examples of Joan’s community service are plentiful. She was a member of a women’s service and social sorority, Beta Sigma Phi and founded the Castle Rock chapter in 1970. She served as president in 1973. When no emergency medical services were available within 25 miles of town, Joan and a few others volunteered so that an emergency clinic, the Swedish Emergency Medical Center in Castle Rock, could be available to local residents. Joan helped build a strong educational system in Douglas County by volunteering at local schools for many years and serving for ten years on the Douglas County Board of Education. She recognized the growing need in the area for those at risk of homelessness or similar crisis, and was an early supporter of the Douglas/Elbert Task Force (now the Help & Hope Center). She served on their board from 1987 to 2010 and continued to volunteer into 2020 making her the Center’s longest serving volunteer. Joan was a founding member of the Castle Rock Historical Society, serving on its board for several years. She volunteered at the Castle Rock Historical Museum for more than 13 years. Her interest in history expanded to the Douglas County Library branch in Castle Rock, where she volunteered in the local history department for more than 10 years. Joan has also been an active Rotarian for more than 30 years. She was one of the first women in the country to join Rotary and a past president of the Rotary Club of Castle Rock in 1993. She is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Joan’s faith was central to her life. In the 1970’s, the Sjostrom’s joined a few other families to start an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) mission congregation that met initially at St Philip in the Field in Sedalia. Joan and Rex’s steadfast support helped make Faith Lutheran Church in Castle Rock a reality. More recently, she was a member of Well of Hope, an ELCA mission congregation and she continues to be a strong supporter of St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church.
She was determined to stay active and mobile as she got older. After she shattered her femur she spent her recovery walking the Wolfensberger property leaving a trail that could be seen from space. When she moved to Bonaventure Senior Living, she could often be found in the exercise room where she walked on the treadmill or rode the stationary bike for 90 minutes a day!
Joan loved the outdoors. More than 70 years ago, she joined the naturalist club at East High School in Denver. Although she was a city girl, her love of the outdoors grew after moving to Douglas County, becoming friends with many of the original ranch families in the county. Joan was a naturalist for Castlewood Canyon and a strong supporter of the Douglas Land Conservancy. She was a beekeeper and loved watching the many birds and other wildlife near her home. Even in her final days she spent much of her time watching the jays and chickadees out her window.
Joan is survived by her brother, George Sevier, her three daughters, Sandra Link and husband Dave, Anne Sjostrom, Sharon Sjostrom and wife Lisa Baker. Her three grandchildren: Rachel, Emily and Davis Link. Her son, John, preceded her in death in 2002 and husband, Rex, in 2006.
We are grateful to the gentle and compassionate care that Joan and her family received from The Denver Hospice during the last 6 months of her life.
Please join us celebrating her life on Saturday morning January 23rd, 2021. Services will be on-line starting at 10:00am at https://www.facebook.com/wellofhopeelca/live/ or at https://wellofhopechurch.org. (Replay will be available at the Well of Hope Webpage).
The funeral procession will begin at the Events Center parking lot of the Douglas County Fairgrounds, departing at 12:00 noon and then proceed to St. Philip in the Field Church in Sedalia. You are welcome to join the procession and pay your respects “socially distanced” from your car at the church. A basket will be available for cards. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, following the procession, both funeral and cemetery committal services will be limited to the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Douglas Land Conservancy (douglaslandconservancy.org) or the Help and Hope Center (www.helpandhopecenter.org).
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