Joan Mary Sisemore, 82, died on November 25 th , 2017 at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura from complications of heart disease. She was surrounded by her family and passed peacefully at the moment of a spectacular sunset. Joan was born on February 10 th , 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Clement Joseph and Anastasia Margaret “Goodie” Keul. She was the first of two children and cherished her role as a big sister to her brother Jimmy. She attended St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, California where she met the love of her life, Richard Earl Sisemore. She married Richard on January 15 th 1955 at St. Helens Catholic Church in South Gate, California.
Joan first worked at Firestone Tires until the family moved to Oak View, California in 1961 where she was a homemaker and school secretary at St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School. Joan and Richard were blessed with four children: Danny, Diane, David and Dennis. Joan and the family attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai where she enjoyed singing in the choir. Joan enjoyed genealogy research, photography, camping and fishing, especially in the Eastern Sierra’s with family and friends. Joan and Rich enjoyed many vacations; their most memorable trips were to a remote fly-in fishing lodge in Alaska.
Joan was a devoted and loving wife to her husband, Rich. Her children were her highest priority and she served as a strong role model. She taught them, by her outstanding example, how to be a caring affectionate spouse, a responsible parent and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be remembered for her compassion, kindness, thoughtfulness, sense of humor and her love of family.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Sisemore; parents, Clement and Goodie Keul; her brother James Keul; her sister in law Evelyn (Jim) Fischer; and sister in law Donna (Dominic) Colamonico. Joan is survived by her children Dan (Debbie) Sisemore of Ventura, Diane (Ed) Colby of Oak View, David (Terry) Sisemore of Royal Oaks and Dennis Sisemore of Meridian, Idaho; 13 grandchildren: Melinda (Eric Gollnick), Meghan (Berk Lindt), Todd, Chelsea, Grant, Lance, Leah, Steven, Christopher and Ryan Sisemore; Michael (Jessica), Brenda (Michael Usery) and Thomas (Tara) Colby; 5 precious great-grandchildren: Kayden and Madelyn Usery; Connor and Hunter Gollnick, and Jack Lindt. She is also survived by her sister in law, Sylvia Keul of Corona, CA and her “adopted” son, Chuck Teague of Santa Paula.
Joan’s family would like to thank Dr. John Padour for his excellent care of her for so many years. The family appreciates the compassionate care provided the nurses and doctors in the CMH CCU and palliative care team during her final days. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Help of Ojai, PO Box 621, Ojai CA 93024 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 742030, Los Angeles, CA 90074-2030.
Family and friends are invited to Funeral Services to be held Friday December 8, 2017 at 11am in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street Ventura. Interment will immediately follow in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.