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Joanne Carolyn Walker, 73, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, creativity, and fierce devotion to those she loved.
Born on April 4, 1952, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Joanne spent a meaningful portion of her life in Lenoir City, Tennessee, where she built a life full of family, friendships, and purpose.
She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Bruce Walker; her son, Peter Piatkowski, his father, Ben Piatkowski, and daughter-in-law, Dille Piatkowski; her daughter, Danielle Phillips, and son-in-law, Boyd Phillips; her three beloved grandchildren, Elias, Walker, and Isaac, who brought her endless joy; her sister, Wendy Ploski; Cousins, Kerry Jashyn, Wes Jashyn, and Karen Jashyn, Lorne Montague; Uncles Norman Jashyn and Gary Warman; Aunts, Judith McLeod and Marianne Warman-Smith Soltau; and Grandmother, Georgette Warman. She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Warman; brother, Tommy Warman; and Aunt Carol Jashyn.
Joanne was deeply dedicated to her work and built a respected career in IT support, known for her customer-first mindset and steady, reassuring presence. She was the person others turned to when problems arose, and she gave everything she had to ensure great outcomes for both her clients and her companies.
Creativity was woven into the fabric of Joanne’s life. She was an avid crafter who could bring any creative idea to life, from scrapbooking and knitting to pokey tool curation and custom card design. She could finish a puzzle faster than anyone you knew, loved a good mystery book or TV show, and never missed a chance to cheer on the Tennessee Volunteers or South Carolina Gamecocks.
Joanne adored her dog, Harley, treasured scrapbooking weekends with her closest friends, and found her greatest joy in time spent with her grandchildren.
Those who knew Joanne would describe her as kind, caring, fiercely protective of those she loved, and delightfully full of opinions.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2304 Tuckaleechee Pike Suite 101, Maryville, TN 37803

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