Joanne Packham

Joanne Bartlett Packham has died at the age of 63 after 12 years of the gradual degeneration typical with Alzheimers disease. Death came peacefully Christmas morning in Syracuse, her home since 1972. Joanne was born March 27, 1947, in Newton, Utah, to Harold and Annie Larsen Bartlett, and as a toddler moved to Springville, Utah. She enjoyed painting, and graduated from Springville High School in 1965. She fell in love with Michael Packham during her freshman year at Utah State University, and they were married in the Manti Temple, June 5, 1969, just a few days before she received her bachelors degree in English, making her a third-generation Aggie. She taught school while Mike finished his BA and MA at USU, then moved to Sunset and on to Syracuse. Mike taught music in the Davis School District while she nurtured their family of eight children. As her youngest child started school, Joanne returned to the classroom herself, earning a masters degree in instructional technology from USU. With that degree in hand, she worked as a school librarian in Weber District, oversaw the purchasing and installation of Fremont High Schools library, and was a reference librarian for Davis County libraries. Books had been a lifelong passion, and Joanne enjoyed sharing that with her children, her students, and her community. This legacy is evident in her children, all of whom have attended college and are well-read, articulate adults. Rearing a family on a school teachers salary brought out many of Joannes skills. She budgeted her time and money wisely, raised and preserved vegetables and fruit, excelled in cooking and baking, was a proficient seamstress and quilter. Her dedication to her church was unfailing. She was a faithful Relief Society visiting teacher and responded to calls as a teacher and leader in the Relief Society, Primary, and Young Women organizations. She particularly enjoyed her humanitarian work, organizing projects and donations for the needy around the world. She loved attending the temple, serving there several times a month even while managing the schedule of her busy family. Joanne was valiant in her testimony of Jesus Christ, of His Gospel as restored in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and of a literal resurrection to an eternal life with Heavenly Father. She endured to the end in this faith. Through the years of her illness, Joanne was cared for by her husband. Many friends, especially a neighbor, Julie Jewell, supported the Packhams through this time. Joanne is survived by her father and 3 siblingsReed Bartlett (Afton) of Kearns, Robert Bartlett (Chris) of Newton, and Ruth Dauwalder (Tracy) of Springville. Celebrating their mothers life are her eight children, Kevin (Cherise) of Fort Collins, CO; Marilyn (Brandon Taylor) of Scottsbluff, NE; Julie (Jaren Taylor) of Logan; Cheryl (Jeremy Freeman) of Harrogate, UK; Nathan (Sarah) of Ogden; AnnaMay (Brandon Wilson) of Logan; Roger (Sprice) of Lancaster, CA; and Adele (Nick Ballam) of Germantown, MD. Continuing their Grandma Packhams legacy of faith and charity are 27 grandchildren. Joannes mother and two brothers, Alan and Lynn, preceded her in death. Friends may join with the family in remembering Joannes life of service. Two viewings will be held at the LDS Syracuse 9th Ward, 1525 West 1175 SouthWednesday, Dec. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 30, from 9 to 10 a.m., with funeral services following at 10:30 a.m. After the services, family and friends will travel to Logan where Joanne will be interred in the Logan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org). For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking, I learned how to love them, dear Mother, from you.