Our beloved JoAnn Zanin, 78, passed away peacefully on her birthday, June 25, 2024, with many family members at her side. She won the long battle she had with lymphoma but lost the war that the toll of treatment took on her.
Jo was born in Oregon City to Wes and Evelyn Kolshinski in 1946. She grew up in the small logging town of Orick, CA where Wes and Evelyn had relocated from Molalla and everybody knew everybody. Jo attended Orick Elementary, graduated McKinleyville High in 1964 and subsequently attended UC Santa Barbara and Humboldt State College. She maintained many childhood friendships throughout her life.
Jo married Mike Pittman in 1965 and they had Christa and Jon. When the kids were a bit older, she worked part-time until she was recruited to join PG&E’s customer service team in the early 80’s.
In 1991 Jo was offered a promotional transfer to Redding and moved to Cottonwood. She provided human resource services to several departments over the years. Those who worked with Jo will remember her as a person who could problem solve, foster work and personal relationships, share a smile, a gleam in her eyes, an eyebrow raise. Jo retired from PG&E in 2008.
It was at PG&E that Jo met her husband and light of her life, Zeke. She was embraced by his, now her, family. Christa and Jon and their families moved to the Redding area, so she had all her favorite people close. Their wonderful, inviting home was the gathering place for many loving and energetic family events.
Jo loved her miniature schnauzers. She said goodbye to her beloved Heidi and Hans in the last couple of years, and had just welcomed two new pups, Greta and Gabi into their home.
Jo was creative. She enjoyed cooking, canning, crocheting, quilting, stenciling, antiquing, decorating, fishing, gardening, even cleaning, and she knew just how she wanted things to be. She loved her time in Brookings and their new site along the Chetco River. Jo was also a hospice volunteer, providing many hours of respite to caregivers. Precious time for her was being Grandma, Grandma Jo, GiGi.
Jo is survived by Zeke, her son Jon Pittman (Cheri), daughter Christa Gerig (Greg), brother Jack Kolshinski (Toni, nephews Tobin and Justin), sister Joyce Pedlow (John, nephews Blaine and Wes,) grandchildren Gavin Pittman, Megan Pittman, Kaylin Carrol, great granddaughter, Avery. She’s also survived by her extended family, Zeke’s mom Dorie Zanin (Nana), Stephanie Zanin (Scott), Hilary Pursell (Coley), Gordon Zanin (Heather), Megan Brannon (Kenny); grandchildren, Hartley, Kimberly, Kaylee, Kadance, Cander, Jacob, Connor, Logan, Kinslee, Gia, and McKenna Jo. She is also survived by many loving cousins, and many wonderful friends.
She is preceded in death by her mom and dad, Evelyn and Wes, Christa and Jon’s dad, Mike, and Zeke’s dad, Rudy (“Pops”).
Jo had a deep faith in the Lord and knew that he would help her through her final hours to a place where she would not know pain.
A private family graveside service will be held on July 12 in Cottonwood, and a celebration of life on September 14 at the family home in Palo Cedro, details will be available at a later date.
The family would like to thank everyone—friends, caregivers, medical staff and all family—who lovingly supported Jo through this 3-year journey.
We are blessed to have had Jo in our lives, and we will miss and love her forever.

CONTACT: Joyce Pedlow
Joyce.pedlow@comcast.net
360-303-9309