Joan Mary Mckinney (Altgilbers)

Joan Mary (Altgilbers) McKinney is rejoicing in her Savior’s loving embrace as she went to spend eternity with Him on May 1, 2016. She was 86 years old. She had resided at Colorow Care Center in Olathe, CO for the last 18 months but had made Norwood/Redvale, CO her home since 1954.

Joan will be missed by so many who knew her lively smile, her generous heart, her creative and artistic gifts, her quick wit, her friendly and engaging nature.

Joan was born at home (1320 Oak St., Quincy, Illinois), delivered by her Aunt Maggie, on September 30, 1929 to Anna Catherine (Freiburg) and Carl Henry Altgilbers. Anna had also been born in that same house as Anna’s parents bought it when they married in 1884. Joan shared many fond memories of her early childhood when Grandma and Grandpa Freiburg lived with them, Grandpa being a cobbler and working from the garage out back. She loved to play in the big grape arbor in the back yard.

Joan was an only child and the apple of her daddy’s eye; she delighted in how he called her his “Babe”. Carl was a Captain for the City of Quincy Fire Department and died from smoke inhalation when Joan was just 10 years old. Joan and her mother, Anna, continued to live at 1320 Oak St. and were embraced by a very large extended family of many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends in the Quincy area.

Joan attended St. Francis Catholic elementary school, Quincy public high school, and lived at home until she graduated in 1951 from Quincy College, a Franciscan Catholic institution. She served as the Dean of Women at Quincy College for a year and she and Anna lived in the beautiful women’s dormitory called Stillwell Hall.

Joan wrote in a little journal, “When I was 6 years old I told my parents I wanted Santa to bring me a piano. If he didn’t I was going to run away! Well, what do you know? On Christmas morning there was my piano in the front room – a fine upright player piano with many rolls!  Being able to play the piano (with or without music) has been a great joy in my life.” Anyone who knew Joan, knew she loved to play piano for any and all occasions. Her ability to play “by ear” was astonishing and she knew hundreds of songs. She still enjoyed playing until just the last few months.

Always eager for new adventures, Joan’s first real job was with the Girl Scout council in Altoona, Pennsylvania where she put her Sociology degree to work.  In about 1953, Joan and her mother moved to Phoenix, AZ where Joan worked as a secretary for an aeronautics company, Air Research. A summer job as Children’s Counselor at a dude ranch in Woodland Park, CO proved to be a turning point as it was there she met Dr. Sharpe, the superintendent of Norwood Schools, who offered her a teaching position as soon as she could earn a teacher’s certificate and get to Norwood. Joan and Anna moved to Norwood to start the 1954-55 school year. Joan was immediately enamored with the beauty of the Colorado mountains and the friendly acceptance of the local people. The entire community in and around Norwood would become her beloved “adopted family” over the next 55 years. She served her new family in many ways through various organizations, events and festivities.

Joan served as a chaperone at an eighth grade dance in Norwood in 1954. Ivan McKinney brought his younger brother, Paul, to that dance and immediately noticed the lovely young Miss Altgilbers. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1955, Joan became Mrs. Ivan McKinney at St. Daniels Catholic Church in Ouray, CO. She cherished and adored her Ivan, embracing everything about living on a ranch in remote rural Colorado. Well, almost everything – she never learned to milk a cow nor ride a horse! All the chores, the animals, the weather-dependent lifestyle, the hard work, the making-do and working around that comes with ranch life…all the while teaching hundreds of students at Norwood Public Schools. She taught nearly every grade from kindergarten through high school and retired in 1987. She spent several years serving as a substitute teacher when needed and often remarked that she truly LOVED being a teacher. Oh, there were a few students that were challenging over the years, but, by and large, Mrs. McKinney loved every single one of her students. And she remembered nearly every one for some singular aspect even years after they passed through her classroom.

Besides being a very gifted musician, Joan also was quite artistic. She loved to draw and paint and developed a folk-art style of painting in the company of several good friends in Norwood. She loved to paint and give away items for weddings, graduations, births, and birthday gifts to friends and family. Many people have remarked about Joan’s beautiful and perfect handwriting. She dearly loved to write and receive cards and letters and kept every card ever sent to her. Really! Often, she would create a new card out of ones she had received – a true recycler!

Joan was a faithful member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic church in Nucla, CO and served as organist/pianist for many, many years. Her strong Catholic faith gave her strength and comfort throughout her life.

Joan chose to live with joy, wonder, encouragement, and authentic caring for others. She took a genuine interest in everyone and everything around her, always finding time to smile, say hello and strike up a conversation with those she met. Nobody remained “unknown” to Joan for very long.

Joan and Ivan raised 4 children in Norwood: Mary Kay (Paul Rose) – Redvale, CO; Jean Elaine (John Hatfield) – Montrose, CO and twins, Carl Irwin – Redvale, CO and Earl Ivan (Donna) – Yuma, AZ.  Joan was preceded in death by Ivan in 1999 and a grandson, Logan Carl, in 2008.  Joan has 7 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A celebration of Joan’s life is being planned for mid-summer in Norwood. Memorial contributions can be made to Redvale Community Center  PO Box 66, Redvale, CO  81431.  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory in Montrose, is assisting the family.