Joan Mary Jinneman just wanted to run in her final days here and run she did to her heavenly home, September 15, 2017. Joan was born in Madison, New Jersey, June 1, 1934, the eldest child of Harry T Weiss, from whom she garnered her enthusiasm for baseball, and Hilda (Sally) E Weiss, recent emigrant from London, England, from whom she acquired a love for her daily tea. As a child, Joan, while balancing keeping her quite vivacious brother, Harry, in line and caring for her much younger sister, Linda, avidly enjoyed baseball and even served as lead pitcher, a female in the 1940’s mind you, on the town’s otherwise male team.
Joan graduated from Madison High School in 1952 and shortly thereafter moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona, where she met and married Martin P Nemecek in 1954. Together they nurtured a new family: Paul M (1955), Christine M (1957), and Russell J (Skip, 1959). Finding herself widowed in 1960, Joan showed great strength in continuing to focus on the needs of her children. Later that year, she scored a home run when she “accidentally” slammed the shin of a fine gentleman, Dr. Charles (Chuck) L Jinneman, while putting down the church pew kneeler. They wed on September 24, 1960 and continued their adventures together until Joan’s final run, almost 57 years later.
Together, they moved to Auburn, Washington, where John (Jack) C was born in 1964, then to Hillsboro, Oregon, and Pleasant Hill, California, before returning again to Auburn in 1968. Together, Joan and Chuck built a very successful veterinarian business, the Auburn Valley Animal Clinic, where Joan fully supported her husband’s work and served as backbone for all aspects of the business. During this time, she also played a crucial role in building youth soccer programs in Auburn and throughout the greater Seattle area, serving as secretary of the Auburn Soccer Club and Public Relations/Soccer Clinic Coordinator for the Seattle Sounders. She could be considered an early founder of youth soccer in the Western Washington region. Joan enthusiastically cheered on her children’s soccer games and, as they moved on, enjoyed writing and painting replicas of wild ducks.
After 31 years in Auburn, Joan and Chuck moved to Wenatchee, where she resided for 18 years. There, Joan enjoyed tending her flowers, feeding the birds and rabbits, quilting, weaving, and knitting colorful hats as a way to warm little heads and hearts, many in Wenatchee and over 250 in Montana! She was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and firm in her Christian beliefs. Joan always wanted to be sure each of her children got a good education and a good start in life. As she aged, she was very proud that each served in a vocation where they made a difference in the world. True to her character, Joan ran the final bases with patience, persistence, and appreciation.
Joan is survived by her devoted husband, Chuck; sister, Linda; four children, Paul (Linda), Chris (Dan), Skip (Suzanne), and Jack (Karen); 13 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.
A Mass in Joan’s name and celebration of her life will take place September 25 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 625 S. Elliott Ave, Wenatchee. Interment will be at Wenatchee Cemetery, 1804 N. Western Ave., followed by lunch at the church.
The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Central Washington Hospital for their very tender care. Telford’s Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements; condolences may be left there or posted online at www.telfordschapel.com.
