Elizabeth JoAnne Bush passed away on May 24, 2023. She was 80 years old. JoAnne was born in Ramsey, Minnesota, on September 18, 1942, to Woody and Claire Whichello. She joined her teenage brother Skip and not long after that, her beloved younger brother Dick completed the family.

JoAnne’s early life was spent in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. She attended Sibley High School and then St. Cloud State University where she made many lifelong friends. She spent her summers during college working in Yellowstone Park, along with many other college students, and those memories were some of her fondest. It was there in 1966 at the Old Faithful Lodge where she met Jim Bush, who was on leave from his Air Force base in Montana. They had a whirlwind courtship, marrying three months after they met.

Jim and JoAnne settled in Humboldt County where Jim’s family lived. There they raised two daughters, Julie and Jamie. Jim and JoAnne devoted the next 20 years to family adventures including road trips, ski trips, fishing at Lewiston Lake, and idyllic extended family time at the family’s Chezem Ranch property on Redwood Creek. In addition to organizing the adventures, JoAnne was a Bluebird and Campfire girl leader, PTO president, classroom aid, and supporter from the stands of lots of volleyball games. As her kids grew older, she found time to work at a couple of long-time Arcata businesses: Hensel’s Hardware and Arcata Stationers.

Some of JoAnne’s happiest times were spent as the beloved “Pink Gramma” to her granddaughters, Rachel and Alley. She babysat them, read to them endlessly, and generally spoiled them as only a grandmother can do. She attended school events, sporting events, dance and piano recitals, and was so proud to see them grow up into strong young women.

JoAnne was a friend to many, with a great sense of humor and a lifelong love of all things Elvis. She loved to travel and finally made it to Graceland on one of her trips. She especially liked taking cruises in the later years, including the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and the Mississippi River.

JoAnne is survived by her daughters Julie Perry (Ron), and Jamie Bush; and granddaughters Rachel Perry and Alley Perry. She was preceded in death by her parents Woody and Claire Whichello; brothers Skip Marsden and Dick Whichello; and her beloved husband Jim Bush.

We will miss her stories, her sense of humor, and her quest to always “have something to look forward to”.

JoAnne’s life will be celebrated at a private family gathering.

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