Joan E. Hunter

It is with great sadness and much love that we say goodbye, for now, to our wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother Joan E. "Joanie" Hunter, of East Wenatchee, WA and former longtime resident of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. She passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Joanie was born in Mannville, Alberta, Canada, the second daughter to the late Elbert and Margaret (Arnold) Hubbard. She went to work for Safeway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she began to build her career. She later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she initially worked at a meat market prior to returning to Safeway Canada. Joanie and her daughters made the move to Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada where she continued her career with Safeway. Joanie was a hard worker and earned the position as the Manager of the Seafood Department, a role she held until her retirement. Following her retirement, she devoted even more time and travel to her Lions Club ministries. Through her Lions family she met Alan Hunter, while she was in the role of Lions MD 19D District Governor and he, the President of The Wenatchee Central Lions. A perfect match that happily resulted in their marriage on December 31, 2008 in Moab, Utah. They made their home together in E. Wenatchee, WA. Once settled in E. Wenatchee, Joanie, became an active member of both Eastmont Baptist Church and the Wenatchee Central Lions Club. This was a natural continuation of her generous and devoted longtime work with the Kamloops B. C. Lioness and Lions Clubs. She held several positions with the Kamloops Clubs including: President, District President, and District Governor of Multiple District 19D. In addition, Joanie through various positions assisted in the planning, setup and execution of many Multiple District Conventions. She has been awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, that recognizes humanitarian qualities such as: generosity, compassion and concern for less fortunate, and the Judge Brian Stevenson Fellow Award, one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed in Lionism for recognition of achievement and involvement, by Lions International. She enjoyed serving others through Lions that was her way of Loving people. She is survived by her loving husband, Alan R. Hunter; two daughters, Joanne Plante, Victoria, BC, Jody (Reuben) Irvine, Kamloops, BC, Step-sons, Judd Hunter, Nashville, TN and Zach (Noor) Hunter, Boston, MA; one sister, Karen (Robert) Calder, Spruce Grove, Alberta; 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Betty Hubbard, and son-in-law Jerry Plante. A Commemoration Service is being planned for Saturday, January 20th at 12:00 pm, Eastmont Baptist Church, located at 4th & Kentucky Street in East Wenatchee. You are invited to visit her tribute online at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com and leave a message of comfort, condolence or memory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Lions of Canada Fund for LCIF C/O Stan Durward Box 38, Sunderland, ON L0C 1H0 in memory of PDG Joan Hunter Cards can be sent to: Alan Hunter 738 - 12th St NE East Wenatchee, WA 98802 OR Wenatchee Central Lions Club C/O Marcia Miller 292 N Joseph Ave E Wenatchee, WA 98802 Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.