Jo Ann Marie Trotter's Obituary
Jo Ann Marie (Rosenquist) Trotter, 73, of Tacoma, WA, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2010. Though she leaves behind a grieving family, Jo Ann was ready to end an eighteen month fight against cancer. Jo Ann was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many, many people. She is missed more than she could possibly imagine. Jo Ann was born in San Diego, California on October 30, 1937, to Carl and Cecil Rosenquist. Her family subsequently lived in South San Francisco during WWII, moving to Tacoma in 1946. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1956. Following graduation, she began her career with the phone company. Jo Ann stayed with Pacific Northwest Bell through its transition to AT&T. She retired early as a supervisor in 1989. Jo Ann was very bright, funny, a voracious reader, a wonderful wife and mother, loved to travel by car or motor home, and maintained different groups of friends from water aerobics to former phone company co-workers. Jo Ann couldn't resist a shopping excursion and finding a bargain made the trip all the more satisfying. Attending plays and concerts was a lifelong interest. Jo Ann very much enjoyed family picnics, cruises, and trips to Mexico, Jamaica, England, Scotland, Canada and Alaska. She dug and ate razor clams, liked oysters both raw and cooked, liked steamer clams, picked huckleberries, caught trout, steelhead, salmon (including king), and halibut, and even shot one deer. Yet, Jo Ann never really considered herself to be an outdoors person.
Jo Ann is survived by her husband of 52 years, Leland Trotter; daughters Chris Trotter of Sequoia National Park, CA; Susanne Trotter of Lakewood, WA; and Jennifer Milke (Doug) of Tacoma, WA; and her much-loved grandson, Anderson Milke. Jo Ann is also survived by four siblings: William Rosenquist of Laughlin, NV; Gerald Rosenquist of Goodyear, AZ; Sandra Zellers of Charlotte, NC; and Gary Rosenquist of Lakewood, WA. Siblings Charles Rosenquist, Michael Rosenquist, and Carlyn Van de Stroet preceded her in death Jo Ann's family wishes to thank Dr. Daniel Moore and the staff members at the Multicare Regional Cancer Centers in Tacoma and Auburn for the care and support they provided. We are also so thankful for Franciscan Hospice House in University Place, WA, and the calm and supportive place they provided for us all during Jo Ann's final days.
Donations made to either organization would benefit many. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service and reception to celebrate Jo Ann's life in the Valley Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home (4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA) at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 11, 2010.
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