Joan Moehrke

JOAN OSGOOD MOEHRKE     1941-2015

Joan was born September 1941 in Los Angeles.   After WW2 her family moved back to Nebraska, where Joan finished school and entered the workforce.   She was the “Goldie Hawn” lookalike on TV ads produced by the Omaha ad agency she worked for.  She later joined a small insurance company and was relocated to Palo Alto with that company. 

Joan was very artistic: In 1976 she was exhibiting in a shopping mall art show when she met her husband Howard, whom she married in 1977.  They both exhibited at outdoor art shows and local Santa Clara county art galleries, Joan showing pen and ink drawings and serigraphs (signed Osgood), Howard showing stained glass.  In 1981 they moved to Napa to open their own art gallery, and shortly after, a small First Street B&B in anolder home.   The B&B was closed in 1989 so Joan could focus on her art and her flower garden.

In 2005 Joan moved to a single story home for health related reasons.  Joan died very early March 16 of COPD related issues.

Joan enjoyed travel, especially to Hawaii and Caribbean cruises.  She found it hard to walk past any antique store or jewelry shop without entering.

She is survived by her mother Laura Osgood of Napa, husband Howard of Napa, step-daughter Cynthia, her partner Greg and her daughter Elizabeth of Stockton, plus step-son Christopher, his wife Marjorie and their son Phillip of San Jose.

Words of sympathy may be sent to the family at WWW.TULOCAYCEMETERY.ORG.  A memorial will be held on a date TBD.  .

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