Joanne (Brookhart) Devine |
| Posted 2010-01-15 by Pat Wilson |
| Joanne was born in Duluth, Minnesota on February 21, 1926 to John and Marguerite (Springman) Brookhart. She was the oldest of three children and is survived by her two brothers John Brookhart of Centreville, Virginia and Smith Brookhart III of Reeds Spring, Missouri. Described by her high school and college classmates as the "best, brightest, and most beautiful" Dan Devine was lucky to woo her for his bride. Not only was Joanne the first female class president of her high school, she was an excellent athlete competing with boys in snow skiing, hockey, golf and other sports unavailable to women at that time. Some of Joanne's early accomplishments were skating in the Ice Capades at age 8, winning the Duluth city golf championship, and participating in high school and college theater where she was recognized for her acting, directing, make-up, and set design. Throughout her life, she demonstrated a special talent for creating jig-saw puzzles for family and friends-a skill learned from her father. Joanne attended University of North Dakota and University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) studying English and political science. While at UMD, her husband, captain of the football team presented her with roses, as she was crowned homecoming queen. Joanne was not only the ultimate coach's wife, she was the rock and foundation that allowed Hall of Fame Michigan State, Arizona State University, University of Missouri, Green Bay Packers, and Notre Dame. Faithfully attending games, contributing to the play selection, and her Sunday Coach's Poll vote was well known in the football community. People wondered why Joanne was so calm during games-she was charting each play for postgame analysis. Wherever she lived, she made friends easily...all who met her were blessed by her spirit of love and hospitality. She became a surrogate mother, reaching out to many of Dan's young college players who fondly remember her home-cooked meals, cookies, and loving kindness. Dan recalls Joanne as "...the perfect mother and wife and as nearly a perfect human being as I have ever known". She was a devoted mother of seven (7) children, a loving grandmother, sister, daughter (bringing her widowed mother into her home for over 13 years), and a generous, giving philanthropist in the community. Although Dan was a great "leader and motivator", it was Joanne who quietly demonstrated a determined strength through her faith, compassion, and unconditional love of people. She was actively involved in numerous community organizations (PEO, church and bible study groups, Legion of Mary, scouts, school PTA, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy associations, garden clubs, and athletic booster clubs to name just a few). Her dedicated spirit and extraordinary personal courage were a reflection of her daily walk with God and devotion to prayer and spiritual contemplation. Joanne successfully balanced family, faith, and fun...raising 7 active children, making home repairs, forever praying, and still finding time to get in a round of golf or bridge with her friends and other coaches wives. The Devine home was the neighborhood center of activity and the "coolest" place for her children's friends to hang out. Her meter was always running-acting as taxi driver to numerous activities, the kids often changing in the back of the car going from one school or sports event to the next. She truly was the ultimate fan-cheering for her children and later in life her grandchildren at Pop Warner, soccer, basketball, baseball games and swim meets. One cold and rainy day on the Notre Dame hockey field, Joanne remained the solitary cheerleader at her daughter Sarah's game. It was never too far or too cold or too inconvenient...you could always look to the bleachers and she would be there. People close to Joanne know that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 48 yet continued to live a rich, full life for 26 years. Despite pain and physical challenges, Joanne dramatically affected the lives of thousands in the MS community through her personal touch, active correspondence with her many MS friends, and tireless fund raising (including the Joanne Brookhart Devine Endowment) and client services. Her tremendous outreach was a loving inspiration and benefit to many people across the country. Joanne surrounded her family in beauty through: gardening and a love of flowers-designing and constructing rock gardens as a sanctuary for birds, butterflies and toads, Broadway music-singing and dancing around the house with sheer joy and abandon-serenading the pine trees; original holiday creations and baking projects; playing lively games of scrabble and cards; experimenting in country living and mowing acres of grass and plowing snow on her tractor; nurturing horses, dogs (birthing puppies), ducks, bunnies, and any other stray animals that her children frequently brought home; nature walks, feeding birds, and daily celebrating the sunrise; breakfast in bed and your own menu including your favorite cake or pie on your birthday. Her children say that she had a way of making each one of them feel special and loved. Joanne was the beloved matriarch of the Devine family and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her and each day by every one of her seven children (Jennifer, Mary Jo, Diana (Dede), Dan Jr. (Tiger), Sarah, Lisa, and Jill), sixteen grandchildren (Kelly, Kristy, Kasey, Keary, Darius, Danielle, Crystal, Jimmie (JJ), Dan III (TJ), Kathleen, Kelsey, Kyle, Jacob, Arlo, Sam, and Jesse), three great-grandchildren (Alexander, Joseph, and Trenton), and especially by her husband of 53-years (Dan). To our Mother... you will always be our guardian angel and we honor you by our continued commitment to each other. In lieu of flowers, please send donations: Joanne Brookhart Devine Multiple Sclerosis Endowment Fund; MU Health Care M.S. Institute, DC 205.00, Columbia, MO 65212; P.E.O. Continuing Education Fund, 12233 North 78th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85260; Divine Mercy (Legion of Mary), Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044 or ATT: Legion of Mary, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8620 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020 The Arizona Republic December 26, 2000 See Also: Find_A_Grave |
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