JoAnn Lekwa Johnson Corrigan

JoAnn was an only child, born to Harry Sigurd Lekwa, an Iowa banker and Norma Lekwa, a school teacher. Both of her parents came from large Norwegian farming families.

JoAnn described her hometown of Ackley, Iowa as a great place to grow up and go to school. Friends she made in Ackley remained lifelong friends. She was valedictorian of her high school class and got a scholarship to attend Carleton College in Minnesota.

JoAnn married Curt Johnson in June 1950 and transferred to University of Iowa where she made Phi Beta Kappa and graduated in 1952. JoAnn and Curt moved to Chicago where she got a job with Scott, Foresman, a leading academic publisher. She remained employed there in different capacities through the early 1980s.

In 1956, son Mark was born. When he was 3 years old, JoAnn and Curt moved from Chicago to a southwestern suburb called Western Springs; and in 1959 their daughter Paula was born. JoAnn and Curt divorced in 1974.

In 1979, JoAnn married Robert Corrigan. Robert's position as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, allowed them to do a great deal of travel, taking them to Holland, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, France, Austria and the then Yugoslavia.

In 1984, Robert took on the position of Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities at University of Texas at Dallas. Sadly, Robert developed a neurological disease and passed away in September 1993. Within a year and a half, JoAnn moved back to Milwaukee and threw herself into volunteer work with the Friends of Milwaukee Public Library. JoAnn took many interesting trips, often conducted by the Art Institute of Chicago.

In 2011, JoAnn suffered a traumatic brain injury; and in the years since she steadily declined. She was living in a care facility in Bayside, Wisconsin, where she received the most kind and compassionate care. The family is grateful for all of the excellent staff and care at the Elizabeth Residence.

JoAnn was a classy and intelligent woman whose beauty was often noted. She was a book lover, loved language and was politically engaged. She is survived by her son Mark (Sara) and their children William and Caroline and her daughter Paula Johnson.

In lieu of a service, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.