Joanne Rouse Recken

Joanne Recken Obituary

Joanne passed away January 3, 2014, surrounded by family on her 84th birthday.

Joanne Lee Florance was born in Portland to Erma and Daile Florance, and with her older brother, John, grew up in Portland’s Eastside. She graduated from Washington High School in 1948.

In 1949, she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Rouse, and they produced three sons, Dale, Larry and Matthew. While on a 4th of July hiking trip in the Mt. Hood National Forest with friends and youngest son, Matt, Joe tragically suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1970.

As a young widow with one son still at home, she entered the work force. What began as a two-day temporary job at U.S. Bank turned into a 23-year career. She retired from U.S. Bank as an assistant vice president in the investment department in 1996.

In 1974, she married Robert Recken, a well-known and respected local attorney. His three grown children, Steven, Joe, and Roberta, became part of her extended family. Robert sadly passed away in 1989 and Joanne became a widow for the second time. She missed him every day of the rest of her life. St.

Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church was a big part of her social and spiritual life. She recently retired from the Altar Guild after 37 years. She was a St. Bart’s board member for many years and was instrumental in establishing some of the investment vehicles that benefit the church to this day.

Like many of her generation, she never complained about the cards life dealt her. She faced every challenge with grace and dignity, kept her faith, tried to be strong and was determined to do her best. Joanne touched many lives and will be remembered as smart, inquisitive and a woman of class. She tried to stay in contact with everyone she could, old classmates, former co-workers, fellow parishioners, friends and extended family members. She rarely missed a birthday or anniversary. She loved to entertain. She had a beautiful home and loved to garden. Easter dinner was always a tradition at her house, as were her Christmas fire engine red cake and her Thanksgiving pies.

Joanne was a world traveler. She visited South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia, United Kingdom, Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and traveled extensively in the United States.

Joanne is survived by her sons, Dale (Alba), Larry and Matt (Xiaomei); stepdaughter, Roberta; grandchildren, Lisa, Star, Amber, Joe, Chris, Maria, Katie and Mike; great-grandchildren, Asia, Logan, Jetsun and Zoe; and friend and companion, Luis Nunez.

She was preceded in death by her brother, John; granddaughter, Lindsey; and stepsons, Steven and Joe.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2014, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.

Services

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One reply on “Joanne Rouse Recken”

I am so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose a loved one no matter what their age may be. However, try to think of the joy that will be when God will “wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more” (Revelation 21:4) and then we will be able to enjoy countless generations. Again, please accept my sincere condolences.