Joanne Smithberg Lennon died suddenly at home in Juneau, Alaska on January 20, 2007 of natural causes. She was born June 25, 1932 in Bloomington Illinois, the eldest of six children of Raymond and Dorothy Flessner Vogel. She was raised in Toluca and Roanoke Illinois, graduating from Roanoke-Benson High School in 1950. She then went on to nursing school, graduating from St Joseph's School of Nursing in Bloomington in 1953.
She married Dudley Smithberg of Juneau, Alaska on January 17, 1955 and in September the first of their nine children was born. Dud and Jo moved back to Benson, Illinois in 1956 and lived there until 1966 when Dudley accepted a job in Seattle with the Boeing Company. She remained an at home mom with a full house, and then in 1975 returned to the workforce until her retirement. She moved to Juneau in March 2002 when she married Terry Lennon.
She was preceded in death by her husband Terry in September 2006, her parents in 1985 and 1986, and her sister Mary Vogel Leman in 2002.
She is survived by her former husband, Dudley, of Puyallup, her nine children: Lori Campbell (Ray) of Canby, OR, Matt Smithberg (Stacey) of Seattle, Mark Smithberg of Seattle, Michael Smithberg (Wendy) of Juneau, Helene Romero (Mike) of Seattle, Max Smithberg of Yakima, Lenore Freeman (Jeff) of Seattle, Lee Ann Rebagliati (Luca) of Albisola, Italy, and Martin Smithberg of Seattle. Also surviving are grandchildren Matthew and Andy Campbell, Laura, Christine and Gwendolyn Smithberg, Garrett and Lindsay Smithberg, Gina and Rhea Romero, Jeffrey Freeman, and Tru Hoang, all of whom will miss her grit, wisdom and love. Also surviving is her sister Sue Trent of Eugene, OR, brothers Robert Vogel (Kay) of Metamora, Ill, Philip Vogel of Peoria, Ill, and Larry Vogel (Dixie) of Roanoke, Ill, plus numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by four stepdaughters, Gale Sinnott and Nancy Lennon of Juneau, Delece Lennon of Wasilla, Alaska, and Kandace Dennison of Lacey,Washington.
Joanne was the current president of the Juneau chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was also a volunteer at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. Many various veteran's charities will miss her small but regular donations.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday January 24 at Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau. Memorial Mass will be held Friday January 26th at 10:30AM at Holy Rosary Parish in West Seattle with reception to follow at the school hall. Interment will be at a later date next to her parents and sister in Benson Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Holy Rosary School Endowment Fund, or to the charity of your choice.
