Joanne Marie Gish

In loving memory of Joanne Gish, born June 26, 1941, in Portland, Ore., to Rose and Charles Schaffer. After a long battle with leukemia, Joanne passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Nov. 19, 2022.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Gish; a stepson, Marcus Gish; and a brother, Stephen Schaffer.

She is survived by four children, Donna Valentine, David Wicken (Dawn), Daniel Wicken (Danni), and Darren Wicken (Karen); a sister, Dolores Wood; six brothers, Tom, John, Ken, Mike, Ed, and Marty Schaffer; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Joanne was an active member of St. Rose Catholic Church and St. Joseph Circle. She volunteered extensively in the Longview community with the American Business Women's Association (president, treasurer, and woman of the year); CC Democratic Women (president); CV Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary (president); Junior Service League, Junior Buddies Club, and Salvation Army.

Some of her achievements include the Julia Butler Hansen Lifetime Achievement Award and twice nominated CC First Citizen of the Year Award.

Joanne and Arnold sang and danced in cabarets for 25 years with the Columbia Theatre. They loved bringing joy to others by singing for nursing home residents, and at weddings, funerals, and family gatherings. They had their own personal version of Happy Birthday.

A rosary is planned for 10:30 a.m. and a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Dec. 9 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Longview. A luncheon will follow. Burial will take place at Longview Memorial Park at 2:30 p.m.