JoAnn Fassbender

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved aunt and friend JoAnn Fassbender. JoAnn was called to her eternal home on October 11, 2025, at the age of 92. JoAnn lived her life fully and well. JoAnn’s kind, caring and helpful spirit will be deeply missed. We have profound gratitude for the presence of JoAnn in our lives.

JoAnn was born on March 7, 1933, in Maywood, NE, to Lloyd Albert Denny and Alice Mildred Stevens Denny. JoAnn was joined by brothers George Stevens in 1935 and Edward Wayne in 1937. JoAnn lived in Grant, Nebraska from 1933 to 1945. At the start of WWII, an infant cousin, Sandra, came to live with the family, remaining with them for three years. JoAnn loved her as a sister and friend. JoAnn was sad to see Sandra return to Idaho, but felt that God provided many additional, “sisters,” to her throughout her life.

In 1945, the family moved to Haxtun, CO, to live with Alice’s family while Lloyd looked for work. Lloyd secured a job at Ward Lumber Company in Newcastle, WY. On January 1, 1946, a family friend drove from Four Corners to Haxtun to move Lloyd to Newcastle. There wasn’t room for both their belongings and the family, so Alice, JoAnn, George, and Ed rode the train from Denver to Newcastle. Upon their arrival in Newcastle, Lloyd met the family at the train depot. They walked to their new home on Winthrop Street, which was the original Episcopal Parsonage located on the same lot that houses the current parsonage. The family was happy to be together again. JoAnn recalled how people would stop by the house seeking handouts and looking to get married. She described the time as a great adventure that she and her brothers enjoyed. The experience also formed the foundation of JoAnn’s love of community and charitable mindset. Lloyd, George, and Ed worked together to build the family a home on South Spokane Avenue. The house remained in the family and was the cherished home of JoAnn in her youth as well as for the past sixty-one years.

JoAnn graduated from Newcastle High School in 1950. During her youth, JoAnn was active in 4-H, competing in baking, sewing and embroidery. JoAnn enjoyed telling the story of ice skating as a teenager at a pond on a ranch south of Newcastle. JoAnn formed an enduring relationship with Lois Ann Joslyn (Boulden) as Lois Ann stayed in town with the Denny family during the school week. JoAnn and Lois Ann enjoyed a friendship of nearly eighty years. JoAnn maintained many long-term local and long-distance friendships. She was a dedicated writer of letters and cards, providing love and encouragement over the miles and through the years, never missing a birthday, special event or season.

JoAnn began working in the Weston County Treasurer’s office in October of 1953. She served as Deputy County Treasurer for twenty-four years prior to being appointed Interim County Treasurer in 1977 following Dean Kaiser’s resignation. JoAnn ran for and was elected Weston County Treasurer in 1978. JoAnn served five terms until her retirement in 1998. JoAnn took her job seriously and would work tirelessly to make sure that the county books were 100% balanced, 100% of the time. JoAnn had a meticulous work ethic and would tirelessly account for every penny that passed through the Treasurer’s Office, even if it took her hours of extra work. JoAnn was friendly and enthusiastic, greeting everyone who entered the Treasurer’s Office with a cheery hello. If JoAnn didn’t know a person when they entered the office, she knew them before they left.

JoAnn met Bill Fassbender in 1953 after Bill began his teaching career at Newcastle High School. JoAnn and Bill were married in Newcastle on November 21, 1954. Together, they enjoyed gardening; playing cribbage, bridge, and board games; dancing, Cowboy and Dogie sports, community activities, and civic service. They loved spending time with friends and family and enjoyed several memorable trips. JoAnn and Bill were members of the local dance club, spending many New Year’s Eves dancing and dining with their friends. They adored their cats Buttons, Callie and Buffie. JoAnn and Bill took pleasure in being aunt and uncle to their nieces and nephews and later great-nieces and nephews. They looked forward to visits and always planned ways to make time together with family special. JoAnn and Bill found joy in being surrogate aunt and uncle to the children of their friends, many of whom have maintained lifelong relationships. Many a Christmas Eve, after attending Christmas Eve services, they helped friends put toys together for their children, often returning home after midnight. They shared the stories of their antics with a twinkle in their eyes and a big smile. JoAnn felt honored when parents asked her to look after their children.

JoAnn’s father passed away suddenly in 1964. JoAnn and Bill moved back into the Denny family home, sharing it with Alice for the next ten years. In 1974, Alice married Louis Morris and JoAnn gained a stepfather and a stepsister, Betty Lou Henderson.

JoAnn enjoyed hosting club meetings and setting a pretty table. JoAnn was an excellent cook and baker. Anyone invited to the Fassbender home was in for a special treat. JoAnn appreciated event and seasonal decorations, often oohing and aahhing over centerpieces, favors and table settings. JoAnn was generous in her expressions of gratitude and noticed and appreciated the smallest effort and detail. JoAnn baked hundreds of dozens of cookies in her lifetime and made an equal number of mints for weddings and special occasions.

JoAnn and Bill decorated their home beautifully for different seasons and holidays. Bill crafted many seasonal decorations, Christmas ornaments and birdhouses. JoAnn cherished all of Bill’s creations. A Denny family tradition was the placement of an apple and dollar bill at each place setting on Christmas Day. JoAnn said that growing up, she felt so cared for and blessed by this token of love from her parents on Christmas Day. JoAnn continued this tradition throughout her life.

Bill had open heart surgery in 1987. As part of his recovery, JoAnn and Bill began walking every morning before work. During the winter, they walked indoors at the high school. JoAnn continued daily walking until her knees, “got in the way.” JoAnn had many wonderful walking buddies and looked forward to morning walks and chats. JoAnn’s years of walking, positive outlook, volunteerism and philanthropic outlook likely contributed to her healthy longevity.

JoAnn and Bill shared 52 happy and devoted years together before Bill’s death on September 27, 2007. JoAnn was heartbroken and lost following Bill’s death in 2007. JoAnn and Bill shared a love built on deep affection, respect and friendship. JoAnn lost her brother, Ed, in 2006 and her other brother, George, in 2008. JoAnn’s heart and world were shattered by these losses.

JoAnn knew that community involvement would help her lonely heart and provide a continued sense of purpose. JoAnn was mindful of the plight of people living in scarcity. She held a melioristic belief that informed her volunteerism and commitment to community. A piece of history that JoAnn wanted mentioned was the formation of Newcastle Anonymous, a group that formed to provide funds to families in need. This charity earned Newcastle national attention via an article in the Denver Post (circa 1954) that stated, “benevolent and well-heeled wheels maintain an emergency fund to take care of any worthy, but insolvent ‘Newcastlelonian’ laid low by illness or other disaster.” Newcastle subsequently gained the title, “The town that passes the heart instead of the hat.”

JoAnn was an active member of First United Methodist Church where she served as Church Treasurer and President of United Methodist Women. JoAnn’s abiding and unshakeable faith influenced every facet of her life. She was the first one to the church on Sunday mornings and faithfully cared for the flowers in summer and, in winter, enjoyed filling the containers with greens for Christmas. JoAnn was active in the United Methodist Women's Group (UMW), serving for several years as Co-Chair of the annual UMW Christmas Bazaar. She participated in making homemade noodles and pies for the bazaar soup luncheons. JoAnn could always be found both in the kitchen and serving people on Sundays and special events. JoAnn looked forward to placing the Christmas Nativity on the front lawn of the County Courthouse every December and hoped that this would be an enduring tradition in the Newcastle community.

JoAnn relished any opportunity to play bridge and enjoyed the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle. She created beautiful needlepoint and ceramic projects. JoAnn loved a nice drive along the back roads of Weston County, through any part of the Black Hills, and around Newcastle admiring local gardens and seasonal displays. She looked forward to a fall ride through Spearfish Canyon to see the colors, and until she was no longer able, walked the trail to Roughlock Falls. JoAnn was extremely fond of visits to greenhouses and enjoyed shopping. Dinner at the Alpine in Hill City, a visit to the Jon Crane Studio and a drive past the Crazy Horse Memorial was a favorite, as was enjoying an Indian Taco at Cheyenne Crossing. JoAnn often quoted the lyric, “when you come to the end of a perfect day,” in acknowledgement of how much a day had meant to her. She did not take life for granted and encouraged people to make the most of every day. JoAnn appreciated simple pleasures and found her greatest joy in helping others and spending time with the people she loved.

JoAnn was a member of Chapter X PEO; 21st Century Club; Dirt Dauber’s Garden Club; United Methodist Women; and Friends of the Fair. She was previously involved in Beta Sigma Phi, Forum Club and the Odds and Ends Bridge Club. JoAnn enjoyed Friday bridge games at the Senior Center and monthly Marathon Bridge events. JoAnn served as a Weston County election judge; delivered Meals on Wheels for 30 years; served on the B.R.E.A.D. Board and helped with Totes of Hope. In 2022, sensitive to the plight of people being alone on holidays, JoAnn and her friend Maxine Groner began hosting a community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Methodist Church.

JoAnn worked with the Garden Club in summer to plant and care for flowers in the mine carts located at Dow Park, as well as filling the mine carts around Newcastle with greens for the Christmas season. She was a trusted plant sitter for many friends over the years. JoAnn was a master gardener and found great joy and peace in planning, planting and caring for her garden. She cultivated beautiful blooms and won countless ribbons and awards over the years at the Weston County Fair. JoAnn was especially known for her African Violets.

JoAnn received recognition as the Methodist Quiet Disciple in 2011, was honored as the 2014 Weston County Fair Volunteer of the Year for her years of work organizing and managing the fair flower show, and was the County Fair Parade Grand Marshal in 2015.

JoAnn loved living in Newcastle. She considered it a great place to live and was invested in the growth of community resources. JoAnn often spoke of feeling, “very lucky,” to have called Newcastle home and felt deeply blessed by her many friends. JoAnn was humble, faithful, a good steward, energetic, curious, friendly and liked to have fun. JoAnn cared deeply about people and as a result, people walked away from an interaction with her feeling lighter, brighter and seen.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, stepsister, and sister-in-law Arlene Denny (Ed). She is survived by nieces Debra Denny Samo (Art), Lori Denny Collamer (Mike), Cindy Denny Newell (Andy), Carol Sprigler; nephew Lloyd Denny (Marian); sister-in-law Mary Denny (George); great-nieces Lauren and Kristen Samo, Allison Denny, Lisa Sprigler Condon (Rob), Julianne Sprigler Zoller (Chris); great-nephews Tom Sprigler, Jr. (Sally), Mark Sprigler (Denelle), and Steven Denny; and cousin Gail Russell. JoAnn is also survived by her many wonderful friends in the Newcastle community and beyond. JoAnn had a beautiful village of, “sisters,” and friends. She was grateful for every person in her circle.

A Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Newcastle, WY on November 13, 2025, at 1:30pm with Reverend Calvin Hill officiating. Inurnment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please offer a warm smile to a stranger; help a person in need; marvel over a sunset; plant a garden; bake some cookies; enjoy a cup of coffee; call on a friend or loved one; write a card; be a helper; enjoy each day for what it is; take a moment to appreciate the simple things in life and the beauty of nature; be kind to one another; always be thankful; give each other a hug, and pray for peace in this life.

Memorial contributions may be made to United Methodist Women (UMW) in honor and memory of JoAnn.

God Bless.