On Friday, April 3, 2026, JoAnn Lipina, was welcomed into Heaven, surround by her closest loved ones; her beloved brother Raymond; and her nephew Brian along with his wife Lori, while at home.  Born in St. Louis, Mo on May 27, 1934, JoAnn lived life with optimism and humor.

For those fortunate enough to have known JoAnn, we can almost picture her in Heaven.  Sitting around a familiar kitchen table at the house on Hilltop Drive reunited with her sister, friends, cousins, and nephew, laughing and probably telling a story that gets a little better every time it's told.

JoAnn had enough charisma and optimism to fill ten families, and a laugh that could turn even the worst day into one of the best, weather you wanted it to or not.  JoAnn was a very well-respected Assistant Manager with Metropolitan Life for over 30 years, and she enjoyed working evenings for Neimann Marcus as a sales associate.  She showed compassion to each person she dealt with and had a way of pulling people into her trust.  She made fast friends out of strangers and new coworkers, and no one remained a stranger for long.

JoAnn never married or had children of her own, but that never stopped her from showing her love and devotion to her many nieces and nephews, who considered her to be a "bonus" grandparent.  Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her family and embracing everything life had to offer.  Whether it was a conversation, a vacation with her family, or just a simple late-night run to Ted Drewes, JoAnn showed up fully, loudly, and with a smile and a laugh...a laugh we all know and cherish and will be dearly missed.  

JoAnn is survived by her older brother Raymond; nephew Jim (Kristina) Lipina and children Jennifer, Alex and Sophia; nephew Brian (Lori) Lipina and her children Cortney Cano and Eric Morrison and their families; niece -in-law Sandy (Schierbecker) Lipina and sons Matthew (Kimberly) Lipina and their son William; and Michael (Yulia) Lipina.  She also survived by her beloved niece Michele (Kram) her husband Rick Piro and their son Ricky and his son Jake.

She was preceded in death by her sister Norma Jean (Kaluza) and her husband Arthur Kram; Raymond's wife Lucille (Kaluza) Lipina; an infant niece Mariel and her nephew Steve Lipina.

The years we shared with JoAnn feel endless in memory: summers spent boating on Lake of the Ozarks (where "just one more ride" was never actually just one), water skiing, ice skating, long walks along the California coast, scenic drives through the winding orchards of Wisconsin or the rolling hills of Grafton, Illinois.  Each trip was filled with laughter and good spirts, no day wasted, and nothing done half way...that wasn't in her vocabulary. 

JoAnn leaves behind a family who will forever hear her laugh in their memories, repeat her stories (even if we can't quite tell them as well), and miss the energy, the beautiful smile in her eyes that showed her love and the unmistakable presence she brought into every room.

The family will hold a small family-only service and she will be interred at St. Paul Churchyard in St. Louis, MO.  In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Alzheimers Research, Mercy Hospice, Breast Cancer Research or their own favorite charity.

A very special thanks goes out to her incredible hospice team: Shannon, Dawn and Sarah from Mercy Hospice. Your support, and the incredible care and love you showed for JoAnn is greatly appreciated.  You truly are Angels on earth.