Joan Casebolt

Joan Lennon Casebolt, 85, passed away on December 8, 2016 at her La Junta home. She was born in Eads, Colorado on the homestead of Jonathon & Mary (Fox) Crow, parents of Iva (Arthur) Barnett, parents of Helen (Lynn Eugene) Lennon, and parents of Joan. She married Edward Gale Casebolt.

She attended schools in Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas and returning to La Junta to graduate as Valedictorian in 1949.

She enjoyed having dinners for her family and friends, making cookies, pies, and candy (the best peanut brittle). She also was an accomplished seamstress she fashioned clothes for herself, her daughter, and her three granddaughters.

She actively volunteered in the American Red Cross and served as Water Safety Chairman, managing the Red Cross “Learn – To – Swim” programs for 30 years. As the water safety instructor trainer for 15 years she also taught classes in La Junta and Lamar; also taught at four National Red Cross Aquatic Schools. She was a Red Cross Volunteer Consultant for Southern Colorado. As a political volunteer she obtained a State Charter for the Otero County Republican Women’s Club by combining East Otero and West Otero Clubs. She was campaign chairman for Ronald Reagan, Hank Brown and Wayne Allard. She was a teacher aide in Special Ed for seven years. Enjoying dancing, square dancing, couple dancing, and line dancing for fifty years.

Living on the Santa Fe Trail she enjoyed touring barns, windmills, covered bridges and The Madonna of the Trail. Being a top hand on the Bents Fort Farm she drove a tractor, irrigated, fed cattle, and did yard work and gardening.

She traveled the world by plane, train, bus and car by touring 47 states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Ocean cruises of Hawaii, Alaska, and Panama Canal, inner passage on the Atlantic coast, Virgin Islands, and Bermuda.

She is survived by her husband, Gale of the family home; son, Walter Lynn (Pauline) Casebolt of La Junta; daughter, Sharon Renae Gustine of Glenwood Springs, CO; sister, Ethel Eveatt of Reno, NV; grandson, Lt. Com. JW Gustine of Whidbey Island, WA; granddaughters, Rebecca (Larry) Hardrick of Grand Junction, CO; Sheryl Casebolt of Pueblo, CO; Stephanie (Lt. Com. Phil) Staso of Napels, Italy; also extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Family was very important to her. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She is preceded in death by her parents, her aunt, Hazel Barnett, brother, Art Lennon, sister, June Schleich, daughter-in-law, Jeanne Casebolt; son-in-law, Dick Gustine and an infant grandson.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of La Junta with DeEtta Goettel officiating. Visitation will be Monday, Dec. 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow the funeral service at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church, the diabetes Foundation or charity of choices direct or through the funeral home.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.