Joanne Alice VanderYacht, lovingly known as Grandma JoJo, passed away on July 18, 2023. Joanne was born on May 2, 1940 in Everson to Clarence Koetje and Alice (Haveman) Koetje. After graduating from Lynden High School, she met Gaylon VanderYacht and formed a friendship that turned into a long-distance courtship while he served in the Army. They married in 1962 at First Reformed Church, where they would continue to be members for their next 61 years together.
Joanne was a woman of many career ventures; she worked in the accounting department at Boeing, was a bookkeeper for many local businesses, and owned Celebrations bridal shop in Lynden. One of her favorite roles was the office manager for the Northwest Washington Fair, and her love and support of the local fair never wavered, as she was always so proud to have attended every single year since she was a kid. Upon retirement, she spent time volunteering for the Whatcom Hospice Board, Lynden Museum Board, and Lynden Chamber of Commerce.
Her welcoming spirit allowed her to make friends easily, whether she was in Lynden or Mesa, AZ where she and Gaylon spent winters in their later years. She cherished those close to her, and was always there to lend a listening ear, a word of advice, or a prayer for those who needed it. Joanne cherished her summer weekends with family spent at their cabin on Lake Whatcom and loved making the trek to Pullman in the fall to tailgate and cheer on the Washington State Cougars.
Anyone who knew Joanne knows that her truest passion and the greatest joy of her life was her family. You couldn’t talk to her for very long without hearing about her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and even her granddogs. She enjoyed planning and hosting family reunions and extended family gatherings, and she especially loved Christmas, when she could deck out the house and find the perfect gifts for each of her people.
Joanne was the family matriarch and the glue that held everyone together. She will be forever missed, but the legacy of unconditional love that she leaves is a blessing to all who knew her.
Joanne is proceeded in death by her parents; siblings Ron (Evelyn) Koetje, Neil (Leona) Koetje, Alvin (Joan) Koetje, Howard (Dalene) Koetje, Beverly (Martin) Sterk, Norma Stenevich, and John Koetje.
She is survived by husband Gaylon; brother-in-law Jerry Stenevich, sister-in-law Judy (Robert) Brownrigg; her children Kathy (John) Richardson, Steve (Lanelle) VanderYacht, Krista (Charles) Miller; her grandchildren Sidney Richardson, Levi (Taylor) VanderYacht, Ty (Kyla) VanderYacht, Gretta Richardson, Dylan (Kiya) VanderYacht, Trey Miller, and Jaxon Miller; and great-grandchildren Tatem VanderYacht, Quincy VanderYacht and Cash VanderYacht.
The family would like to invite everyone to a memorial celebrating Joanne’s life on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023 at 1 p.m. at First Reformed Church, 610 West Grover St., Lynden. Memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice Foundation or Be The One Partners for Schools. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
