JoAnn "Gaga" Kirkwood

JoAnn Kirkwood passed away peacefully at her home on September 15, 2024. Despite health challenges over the past year, she enjoyed visits and calls from children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well as watching the Royals and Chiefs games with her husband Tom, right up to the day of her passing.

JoAnn Farmer was born in 1938 in Gainesville, Missouri, but her family settled in Olathe, Kansas where she spent much of her younger life. She graduated from Olathe High School and spent 35 years in a career with Hartford Insurance, her final years there as Manager of Claim Segregation.

JoAnn and Tom lived in Shawnee, enjoying neighbors and the surrounding community including being part of St. Joseph Catholic Church. They spent several weeks each summer at their cabin in Little Lake, Michigan, and looked forward each year to seeing family, friends, and hosting a July 4th celebration there.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Lillian Little, her brothers Larry, Gene, and Jesse, and son, Kevin. She is survived by her best friend and husband, Tom, and by her children: Rick, Valerie, Darrin, Catherine, and Christine. She and Tom have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all of whom will dearly miss their 'Gaga'.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee on Friday, September 20, with Visitation at 11am and Mass at Noon.

The Mass will be livestreamed:https://venue.streamspot.com/48744f2b.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11505 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203.