JoAnn E. Buchanan

In remembrance of our beloved mother, JoAnn E. (Gunsing) Buchanan, who passed away peacefully Monday evening, March 17, 2025, in Anacortes, Washington, surrounded by her devoted son and his family just days before her 84th birthday.

Born on March 21, 1941, in San Diego, California, to Dutch immigrants, JoAnn grew up alongside her older brother, Peter, where she learned the importance of parenthood and the abiding love of family—lessons she would carry on throughout her life.

If you knew anything about JoAnn, you knew that she was a dedicated wife to her late husband of 60 years, Jack, and a loving mother to her four adoring children, Liz, Dan, Dave, and Jack—and if you knew anything about the latter three, you also knew JoAnn was what you would call a real trooper, finding reprieve in the kind heart of her only daughter and eldest child, Liz.

What you may not know about JoAnn is her innate artistic talents, her natural ability to make everyone laugh with the stories she told, the particular fondness she had for animals, and her passion for competition, whether it be through watching a good Lakers game, playing pinochle with her family, or her uncanny ability to walk away from a blackjack table with more money in her pocket than she came with.

It is truly a sad day, but not without the joy we feel in remembering our mother and the eternal gratitude we hold for the blessing of having her with us for more years than we had expected. We will miss you, Mom, for the rest of our days and, in your memory, may we remain forever grateful for your love and unyielding dedication to us.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Petrus and Cornelia Gunsing; brother, Peter Gunsing; and her husband, Jack Buchanan. She is survived by her four children: daughter, Liz (Jason) Chambers; son, Dan (Karen) Buchanan; son, Dave Buchanan; and son, Jack (Denise) Buchanan; 12 grandchildren: Corinne, David, Jennifer, Donna, Jake, Jerdanna, Jack, Hilary, Jeff, Thomas, Abby, and Owen; 10 great-grandchildren: Emilie, Kateara, Landon, Harrison, Romie, Grant, David, Logan, Willow, and Benjamin; as well as extended family members in the Netherlands, cousins Piet (Hilda) Gunsing and Nita Ossendriver.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd., Chubbuck, Idaho, followed by a graveside service starting at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Ave., Pocatello, Idaho.

Memories and condolences may be shared using the guestbook below.