Joanne Marion Hinrichs passed away on June 26, 2021, at the age of 85 due to complications from Lewy body dementia.

Joanne was born August 19, 1935, in Los Angeles to Theodore F. Wilson and Marion Bell Wilson. She was the youngest of three, and the only girl. She was active in dance, Job’s Daughters and cake decorating among other interests. After graduating from John C. Fremont High School, she attended the University of Southern California for a year. She met her future husband, John H. Hinrichs — a Camp Pendleton-based U.S. Marine from Iowa — on a blind date. They married June 18, 1955, and settled in an apartment in the Westmont community of South Los Angeles. Over a 30-month period, Joanne was mother to three children — John, James and Joyce. In 1958, the family then moved to a new tract home in Garden Grove, California. Joanne was active in PTA, Cub Scouts and Brownies. And she also began a cake decorating business. With a desire to raise the family in a more rural area, her husband John took a job as director of accounting for Eureka City Schools. The family moved in 1967 to Fortuna in a house just outside of town with fields and trees to run horses and raise other animals. This house would be her home for more than 50 years. 

Joanne jumped into her new community and helped create the Top of the Morning Bowling league where she perfected her bowling skills while providing recreation for scores of women. She was also a leader in 4-H and Girl Scouts encouraging Fortuna youth to learn and flourish. As her children grew older, she began a career in finance, first at Schools Credit Union, then Coast Central Credit Union, and finally Bank of Loleta. She served in a number of roles including community outreach and service, public relations, personel, and management. She joined her husband in retirement when she retired in 1997. 

In 1998, her husband John passed away suddenly from a heart attack that broke her heart. Joanne’s interest in computers and the internet helped her find a new community of friends with whom she became close to over many years. She also traveled alone and with family and friends to places throughout the United States and even on a Caribbean cruise. 

Over the past few years, Joanne had a progressive decline in mental abilities that was diagnosed as Lewy body dementia. In 2020, she moved from her Fortuna home into McKinleyville Renaissance at Timber Ridge for the care she needed. Her family appreciates the comfort and support she received from the caregivers there.

Joanne was preceded in death by John H. Hinrichs, her husband of 43 years. She is survived by son John H. Hinrichs II and wife Linda Dishman of Los Angeles; son James M. Hinrichs and wife Mary Hinrichs of Fortuna; and daughter Joyce D. Hinrichs and husband Steven Watson of Arcata. Also, grandchildren Aaron Hinrichs (Danielle), Angela Johnson (Philip), Amy Wilson (Jared), Kayla Watson (Nick Wagner), and Lacey Watson Coelho (Casey). And great-grandchildren Tyler, Henry and Audrina Hinrichs; Jaiden and Braylon Johnson; and Emilyn and Raymond Wilson. Great-grandchildren are expected from Lacey in October and from Kayla in January. 

A celebration of her life will begin at  2 pm Thursday, July 1, 2021, at the Fortuna Fire Hall, 320 South Fortuna Blvd, Fortuna. All are invited Donations made in her honor to the Fortuna Firemen’s Association are welcome.

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