Heaven Got an Angel Today

Some of you know that I go to Minneapolis and Des Moines for about 5 days every June.  I have been going there for 7 years.  I meet some of my Yahoo stamping group members to stamp, eat, laugh, eat, laugh....  oh did I say laugh???  We come from California, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota.  Our good friend Joanne has been suffering from Pancreatic cancer and I was fortunate enough to go visit her with 5 other gals on January 28 (in -11 degree weather in Brooklyn, Iowa).  I knew it would be the last time I saw her though it didn't seem real.  She spent the last three weeks in the hospital and today she passed away.  This is what my good friend Sheri wrote to our group:

Today Heaven got a very special angel and earth lost an unforgettable lady.  Joanne made everyone she met feel special.  I have known Joanne for over 15 years and not once did I hear her say a bad word about anyone.  Her sense of humor was like I have never seen before.  She could crack me up with a glance.  We spent hours on the phone and we always had a blast when she and Mark would come to Omaha.  And then there was Des Moines.  Oh what fun we all had.  She was always at the center of the fun.  The picture on the home page was taken when she and Mark met Bill and me in Des Moines just 6 weeks ago.  She knew it was her last trip and she told Bill that it would not be long before she got to  meet Jesus.  I will miss her and I know you all feel the same way.  God speed, Joanne.  Know you are loved by all who knew you.  

Sheri is right on with her description of Joanne.  Here are some pictures from our meeting in Des Moines last summer, Joanne's visit with Sheri and our visit to Joanne's house this January.

I love you sweet Joanne and will miss you terribly.  But I know you'll be busy up there ... I know you'll put in a good word or two for Lexi and all the others that our group has been praying for!