Joanne Thornton

Joanne Dehner Thornton, 69, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at home on Sunday, January 29, 2012, after a recent illness. A beautiful, elegant, and graceful woman, Joanne and her twin sister, Jeanne, were born on Feb. 24, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo., to Marguerite Browne Dehner and Charles V. Dehner. Her early years were nurtured in both of her parents' family traditions, and she became known as one of the "Browne Twins" in the historic neighborhood of their grandparents' midtown grocery store, the present day Browne's Deli. Joanne attended Redemptorist and St. Ann's Grade Schools and graduated from St. Teresa's Academy in 1960. She graduated from Loretta Heights College in Colorado in 1964 with a degree in education. Joanne married James K. Figge in 1965 and moved to Davenport, Iowa, where she became a community leader, forged lifelong friendships, and, most importantly, became mother to four boys: Jim, Chris, Peter, and Stephen. She enjoyed a brief second marriage to Oliver Thornton. When Joanne and the boys moved to Kansas City, she continued her many civic involvements and developed another set of lifelong friends. Her creativity, sense of style, and eye for detail led to work as an interior designer. Her refined, elegant taste was reflected not only in her work but also in her homes, as well as those of family and friends. She brought charm, warmth, comfort, and a sense of fun that was extended to all who entered her doors. Many a young man learned proper etiquette and manners while eating a gourmet dinner at Joanne' table. Joanne loved to play bridge, Rummikub, tennis, and golf. She was also an avid gardener, and was often found tending her flowers, fresh from the court in tennis skirt and visor. She was also a gourmet cook, attending Le Cordon Bleu. She passed her love of sports and sense of adventure on to her boys - rafting down the Colorado River with "Grandmere" and traveling the world. Joanne was kind, generous, and wise. She will be remembered for her independence, love of adventure, and, most importantly, the nurturing of her sons and grandchildren. Sons, daughters, friends, family: if you are standing tall, keeping your elbows off of the table, and only saying nice things "if you have anything to say at all," you have probably been touched by Joanne. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Marguerite Browne Dehner and Charles V. Dehner, and sister, Theresa Dehner Jones. She is survived by twin sister, Jeanne Dehner Martin (Brig. Gen. James L. Martin, Ret.) of Los Gatos, Calif.; brother, Charles V. Dehner, Jr. (Susan P. Woodbury) of Prairie Village, Kan.; brother, Mark J. Dehner (Susannah Evans) of Kansas City; son, James K. Figge, Jr. (Barbara) of Ketchum, Idaho; son, Christopher D. Figge (Debora) of San Francisco, Calif.; son, Peter T. Figge (Amy) of Carmel Valley, Calif.; son, Stephen M. Figge (Ian Alteveer) of NY, NY; uncle, Edward J. Browne of Kansas City; aunts Virginia Browne, CSJ, of St. Louis, Mo., and Patricia Browne Sullivan of Kansas City; and five adoring grandchildren, Taylor, Roger, Dehner, Jackson, and Henry, who lovingly called her "Mere Mere." Joanne's family would like to thank her caregivers for their kindness and devotion. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Redemptorist Catholic Church, 3333 Broadway. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Joanne's name to Doctors Without Borders, Redemptorist Catholic Church, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, or Susan G. Komen for the Cure .