JoeAnn reunited with her husband of over 50 years, on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at the age of 82, when she passed at her home. Afflicted with Alzheimer’s for many years, and later cancer, she was finally free.
JoeAnn was born March 27, 1943, in Priest River, Idaho, to parents John and Margaret (Shank) Low. She was the youngest of five. After her dad passed in 1960, her mom later remarried to Harry Reed in 1962 and JoeAnn gained four more brothers.
JoeAnn spent her early years in Priest River, and Newport, Wash., with her family and friends where she would go swimming in “her river” Priest River. Later in life she would see a river and ask, “is that my river?”
Besides swimming, she participated in many activities: Girl Scouts, FTA, honor society, pep club and band. Her love of music continued throughout her whole life. Later in life, she and her husband would attend their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s musical programs, plus a number of country singers.
Joe Ann graduated from Priest River High School in 1961. She attended Lewis-Clark Normal School, earning her certificate for teaching. In February 1963, she met R. Edward “Ed” Ruckman, a farmer in the Reubens area, on a blind date and married July 13, 1963, at the Congregational Church in Priest River. When asked by family and friends why they didn’t wait until the following year to marry, she replied she knew he was the one and they had to get married before harvest time.
JoeAnn and Ed started their life together, living on the farm in the Reubens area. In 1964, daughter Kim Renee was born. Then in 1966, daughter Constance Ann was born. Then came daughter Kerry Jo in 1970, making the family complete. JoeAnn was a homemaker and mom to Kim, Connie and Kerry. As they grew up, she was always supportive of their activities, whether it was school, dance or sports.
In 1988, they moved to Lewiston, and in 2020, JoeAnn lived with daughters Kim and Connie for months at a time, finally living with Kim and husband Billy in Milton Freewater, Ore.
JoeAnn earned a certificate of completion for bank teller training, went to Lewis-Clark State College and studied for a clerk typist. She was a caregiver, from daycare to senior care, at several facilities and private homes. She loved taking care of people. When the task of caregiving got to be too hard for her, she continued to care for others by starting her own business cleaning homes. By this time, she had cleaned many homes and knew all the tricks for getting everything clean. Later, granddaughter Rai was talking about how she cleaned her house — it was clean — but not “grandma clean.” So this was always a family joke that JoeAnn was very proud of.
JoeAnn was a member of many clubs, including: 4-H leader and also on the 4-H advisory committee, vice president of Twin Rivers Porkettes, an auxiliary of Twin Rivers Swine, and a member of the Lewiston Ladies Elks Lodge.
She enjoyed bowling, receiving many awards through the years. She had a great love of sports, which started when she was very young. Since she was the baby of the family, she had been going to all the sports games. She loved baseball, basketball and football, and in particular the Seattle Mariners, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Seattle Seahawks. This year her daughter Kim asked JoeAnn if she wanted to watch the Super Bowl and she commented, “I like football.” So with her Seahawks shirt and Seahawks blanket they watched the game together.
JoeAnn and Ed traveled in the ’70s to the Midwest for business and also to visit family. Other trips were made to visit family and friends in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. They also went to the coast and took trips on charter fishing boats many times. On one trip in 1982, JoeAnn caught a 40-pound, 2-ounce, 38-inch king salmon, which she had mounted and proudly displayed in their home. She went on many camping and snowmobile trips with family and friends. JoeAnn enjoyed her flowers and gardening; as a result, she always maintained a beautiful yard. Other activities she enjoyed were reading, canning, cooking, sewing, crochet and rock hunting. She loved spending time with her family, whether for a big dinner or just a small gathering. She always treasured times when the grandchildren would come to visit.
JoeAnn is preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Low; stepfather Harry Reed; brothers Jim Low and Gene Low; sisters Iris Low and Relma Kerl; her husband Ed Ruckman, and daughter Kerry Jo Franklin.
Survivors include daughters: Kim (Billy) Robing, Connie (Jeff) Camden; grandchildren: Marc (Kathy) Ruckman, Catherine (Joe) Chapman Cripps, Ashley Fenton, Johnathan Franklin, Rai Franklin, Amanda (Torey) Lamar, Quenton Franklin and Samantha Camden; great-grandchildren: Robert, Rastan, KiKi, Adien, Ariah, Khloe, Juliet, Orion, Kora, Skylar and Adeline; sisters-in-law: Charlotte Misner and Donna Ruckman; nieces and nephews Lurana Koch, Rick Low, Den Naccarato and Tina Campbell, and many other nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home, 1711 18th St., Lewiston. Graveside service will follow at the Reubens Cemetery and then a gathering at the Reubens Community Church.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Saturday, April 18, 11:00 AM
- Location
-
Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home
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Lewiston, ID 83501
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