JoAnne Brueggeman Obituary

Please accept our condolences. We are truly sorry for your loss.

Dorothy & Tony Lucas, Hobart, IN

I am so very sorry for your loss. I did not know until now. You were always kind and loving. Place accept our condolences.

Joanne when I think of you it's all in your incredable SMILE and HNL sunsets

With the deepest sorry I send my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of JoAnne. I will pray for her family.
Linda Cavallero (Redding, Ca.)

To the Brueggeman and Kolavo families, I feel honored to say I knew Jo Anne. Though I only flew with her while she was based in San Francisco, she was a joy to work with on our Honolulu flights. A perpetual smile that was contagious. She will be missed by many, but never forgotten.
Leslie Duenas-sfosw, retired

To all of JoAnne's family, You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I flew with JoAnne to so many international destinations, usually Beijing, Hong Kong or Tokyo and was always so very excited to see that she was on "my line". She was really one of the best flight attendants that ever worked for United Air Lines. Her galley was perfectly set up for every service but usually First Class that she flew. Even though she loved to present a wonderful service she was always most interested in the people on board and her crew members. With her beautiful, expressive eyes and constant smile, she interacted with as many as she could. Because she was so very smart she could converse about many topics from the current news to health and travel. And as you know Mike, the pilots loved when JoAnne was in the galley. I had many conversations on so many topics on some of those long 16 hour trips but the most important topic to JoAnne was always one about Matt. She adored you and was so very proud of you, loved seeing you in Beijing, loved when you were coming home. She also talked of her wonderful Mom very often and all of her family members. I hope the support you have from each other will bring you comfort and peace. I feel very privileged that I was able to call JoAnne my friend.

To all Joannes family .... You and Joanne are in my thoughts and prayers. Linda Lang

i flew with joanne to and from honolulu for years and will remember her great smile and laugh...she was a joy to spend time with...bless you always joanne

I will always remember our flying Honolulu days. It was always fun to fly with Joanne.She will be missed by so many. Fly with the angels, Joanne!

I used to fly the Hawaii route with Joann in the 1980's. She was so much fun to be with - what a sense of humor she had! She was beautiful person inside and out. I am so sorry she lost her battle against breast cancer.

Kay Garvin Conneely

To the Brueggeman and Kolavo families: I know these last 5 days have been a blur for you, as you have tried to come to grips with losing your dear JoAnne. I think of all of you each day, & want you to know that we are here if there is anything you need. Not a moment has gone by since I learned that JoAnne passed away that I have not had her on my mind & missed her. I can only imagine how difficult this is for each one of you. Matt, your Mom adored you, you were the light in her life, & you always brought her such happiness. She would delight in keeping a countdown of how many days remained until you would be in town. You were her pride & joy, & she could not have been blessed with a more caring, loving son. Always take comfort in knowing that she constantly mentioned all of you, her beloved family,every time we spoke on the phone or got together. I heard each one of your names many times throughout the years. It was evident that her family was her top priority. Ye somehow, she made enough time in her very full life, & made extra space in that big heart of hers to show so much caring, & to nurture her many friendships. I was always amazed at how many close friends she had. I was fortunate enough to have her as a treasured friend for 15 years, & now, all of the wonderful memories I have of her are the lasting gift she has given to me, just as she has given to each each one of you. Try to remember the great times you shared together. Anne, often, she'd say "my mom is driving here today, & she wants to make me dinner" (she loved your cooking)!, or she'd tell me "I am on my way to Bobbie & Jim's today". Mike, you were always there with a helping hand, for anything JoAnne needed. You took her to many Dr. appts., chemo treatments, took care of Cooper when she would travel, etc. I'd call to say hi, & she'd say "Mike just stopped by, we're making dinner & then we'll watch a movie". You two shared a great friendship, & she knew she could always count on you, & that you were just a phone call away. Another joy in her life, was travel. Nobody enjoyed traveling more than JoAnne! She couldn't wait for the many trips she took with you Anne & Bobbie, or with anyone in her family. I recall her telling me that she was so happy that her Dr. "gave me his blessing" as she put it, to go to her brother Joe's cabin on Cass Lake in July. She had been hoping for weeks that the Dr. would say she could go, & when he did, she was so very happy. She spoke lovingly of all of her nieces & nephews. She loved each holiday and those celebrations with her family. She always told me who was hosting a particular holiday. If the party wasn't at her house, she'd tell me what she was cooking (most recently, she made cheese blintzes) to bring to one of your homes. She loved parties, politics, the Cubs, Chicago, but above all, she cherished you, her wonderful son & her tight-knit family. She loved to have fun, & took great pleasure in the simplest of everyday occurrences. She had a fabulous, quick sense of humor, an infectious laugh, a boundless capacity for compassion of others, and more enthusiasm than 5 people combined! JoAnne never met a stranger. You all took the best, loving care of her & she was so happy each time she was with any of you. I want to thank all of you for keeping all of us, her countless friends, updated as you have faced this most difficult time, & now, as you face the very sad, enormous personal loss of your dear JoAnne. She will always be watching over all of you. I can still hear her sweet voice, as she'd say with an uplifting phone greeting: "Hi Kathy! It's JoAnne!", & I always said "you don't need to say your name, JoAnne, I would know your voice anywhere!" Her wonderful laugh will resonate in my mind forever. I always told her that she was a beautiful person, inside & out. She loved sending cards, and I received many sweet greeting cards from her through the years. I'd often tell her how pretty and unique her handwriting was, yet she was always very humble about any compliment I'd try to give her. That was her essence: she never knew the huge impact or immense happiness she brought to each of us that were blessed enough to have known and loved her.She had a childlike joy & was always up for any new adventure. She'd often say "when can you come out & play?" I thought that was so cute. Thank you for so many fond memories, JoAnne, but most of all, for your tremendous friendship. Until we meet again, rest in peace, dearest friend. I will love and miss you forever. My family & friends have extended their condolences to me, and all have asked that I pass them on to you, her wonderful family. Lean on one another, that is what family is for, as all of you lost one of your own. Your shared a love for & a connection to JoAnne and that shared bond will help all of you to treasure her memory forever. In time, you will be able to talk without tears, as you recall all of the happy times you shared with her. JoAnne's warm spirit & loving soul will live on in your hearts forever. Love, Kathy, Stu & Andrew

What a Great Lady!! Matt always think of her in that way! We'll miss her . Eve McGuire

Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss.
Carolyn