Josephine Ann Stone

JoAnn Stone, 87, from Limon, Colorado passed away June 8, 2018 with her family at her bedside at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

JoAnn Stone was her birth name according to her older twin sisters who raised her after her parents were deceased. She later legally changed her name to Josephine Ann for business contracting purposes. She was born February 6, 1931, to William John Landwehr and Margaret Marie (Clasen) Landwehr, one of eleven children born to this union.

JoAnn grew up in Limon under the guidance of her sisters after their mother died in 1942 and their father died in 1944. She completed high school in Limon in 1949 but chose not to attend the graduation ceremony. She married Howard Stone, also known as KoKo, on June 20, 1949. According to an original letter from Howard to his parents regarding JoAnn, he loved her very much and did not consider it an infatuation as their relationship was essential in his staying in Limon to play High School sports while working to pay expenses.

JoAnn and KoKo enjoyed more than 66 years of marriage. They were blessed with eight children and enjoyed living in a small town with values that matched their own. JoAnn had an enduring Catholic faith life despite loss of her mother at age 11 and her father at age 13 with no subsequent formal religious education. Her faith life included ministering to prisoners at the penitentiary in Limon and toward the end of her life, she enjoyed daily reading and contemplating Mass readings for the day and praying the Rosary for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren.

She was the last of her brothers and sisters in the Landwehr family to die is survived by her children: Ken (Kay) Stone of Monument, Colorado; Brenda Stone (Frank Beck) of Castle Rock, Colorado; Chris (Lotti) Stone of Sierra Madre, California; Dave (Lynette) Stone of Limon, Colorado; Mary (Bill) Casey of Elbert, Colorado; Rick (Shannon) Stone of Elizabeth, Colorado; Tom (Joan) Stone of Naperville, Illinois; and John (Becky) Stone of Meridian, Idaho. JoAnn is also survived by her 23 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

JoAnn, otherwise known as Josephine Ann, will be very much missed by many.