Joann E. Carlson

Joann Elizabeth Carlson lived to be 100 years old and six months and was feisty until the end. She liked her Cokes and her chocolate and would not put up with any “nonsense.”

Born in Indiana on May 11, 1923, to Ada and Kenneth C. Plasterer, Joann spent her early years in Michigan, as her father worked for General Motors. He was sent to Kansas City to become general manager of the GM plant. 

Joann started college at Michigan State, but her father, knowing the war was coming (since he was manufacturing tanks instead of cars), thought she needed a degree that she could actually use. She finished her education at Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston and returned to Kansas City to work as a secretary at the top of the Power and Light Building. 

Joann met Jack Carlson through a mutual friend. Jack had served as a Navy pilot doing reconnaissance work from South America and then returned to Kansas City to work for his family business: Standard Linen Company. Joann and Jack were married in January 1947. 

Joann’s “handsome” brother, Kenneth C. “Kenny” Plasterer predeceased her. Joann leaves her three children: Kristie Wolferman (Fred), Mitchel Robert Carlson, Marianne Goff (Steve); six grandchildren: Stuart Wolferman (Zoe Knight), Ethan Wolferman (Venessa Robinson), Ashleigh Usher Hamblin (Nate), Amanda Garcia Patino, Logan Goff, and Addison Goff Seibert (Hunter); and ten great grandchildren. A private memorial for Joann is planned in late December.