Joann Johnson Truss

1930 - 2021

Truss, Joann Johnson

Born October 3, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on October 21, 2021 after a brief illness.

Joann attended University City High School, where she was a cheerleader, and Washington University where she became a proud "Pi Beta Ph" on her way to a degree in Fine Art. Joann spent a few years working for Anheuser-Busch, where part of her responsibilities included designing award winning Rose Bowl parade floats. An architecture student as well, Joann designed four homes for her and her family over the years, having one featured in Better Homes and Gardens. Joann also utilized her artistic talents through landscape architecture, drawing and painting for fun, but was perhaps best known for her calligraphy, with many happy wedding invitation clients and an active participant in the local calligraphy guilds.

Joann married Felix Truss in 1954 and they were able to spend 50 years together before Felix's death in 2004. Felix and Joann spent time in Kansas City, Oklahoma City and St. Louis during his working years before moving to Columbia, TN upon retirement. During their time in St. Louis, Joann became the first female Senior Warden at Church of the Good Shepherd. Joann moved to a villa in her brother's vineyard, Chaumette, in 2007, before splitting time between there and a home in Glendale in her final years.

Seemingly never short of energy and always learning, she loved gardening at home, taking family fishing trips to Rockbridge, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles and traveling to visit family or see sights around the world. She was an eternal optimist and never wanted to miss a social occasion. In her quieter moments, she was an avid watcher of M*A*S*H and enjoyed a glass of Maker's Mark with whoever was around at happy hour.

Joann is preceded in death by her husband Felix and is survived by their four children: Caroline (Mark) Gilje, John (Peggy) Truss, Will (Barb) Truss and Mary Ann (BJ) Seagrist. She had 16 grandchildren (Brittany (Mike) Murphy, Maddi Gilje, Tom Truss, Mary Kate (Chris) Mueller, Tim Truss, Joe Truss, Mike Truss, Andy Truss, Fr. Ryan Truss, Philip Truss, Anna Truss, Claire Truss, Amelia Truss, Pitcher Seagrist, Eliza Seagrist and John Seagrist) and 1 great-grandson (Cooper Murphy). In addition, Joann leaves behind her brother Hank (Jackie) Johnson as well as her faithful golden retriever, Jack.

Services: A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, October 25 at 10:30 am at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (1166 S. Mason Road, Town and Country).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lifelong Pets (42 Rolling Rock Court, St. Louis, MO 63124), a local organization keeping pets in the lives of the elderly or Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63124) www.missouribotanicalgarden.com