Joann Mary Teter

As we grieve JoAnn’s departure from this world, it is daunting and barely adequate to summarize her vividly incredible and meaningful life with mere words. She was our mother, the life and soul of our family, our teacher, mentor, friend,therapist, healer, enforcer, best audience, supporter, defender, cheerleader, inspirer, muse, and the whole reason any of us are even here. In short, JoAnn was – and is - our everything. Though words fall short of painting her extraordinary life as brightly as she lived it, here is JoAnn’s story:

JoAnn Mary (Campanella) Teter was born in Butte, MT. Her family soon moved to Seattle, WA where she grew up with her parents and older sister, Julie. Her father, Samuel “Joe” Campanella and her mother Aili Campanella encouraged her to fully participate in life. During her formative years, she played softball and tennis, rode her bicycle,avidly enjoyed water activities, learned to sew, explored downtown Seattle and spent time with her many friends and family. JoAnn was always up for adventure and sometimes engaged in non-traditional types of recreation, such as possibly playing with matches. Indeed, one such adventure may have allegedly resulted in a random house burning almost to the ground. Luckily, eight-year-olds don’t go to jail or serve hard time for arson… This uncomfortable matter was deemed an accident by authorities and eventually became but a fascinating entry in the family archives.

JoAnn met her (first) husband, CJ Gapp, on a blind date during her senior year of high school. Upon graduating from Highline HS in Seattle, she and CJ got married and whisked themselves away to the Grafton, ND greater metro area/teeny tiny farm community where they settled into a traditional family life. Children arrived soon and within a year,the family grew: Arlene, Sandra “Sandie,” Dale and Linda were born in ND. Dean didn’t arrive until the family moved to Colorado.

JoAnn loved being a mom and celebrated her children, even when their choices weren’t always good and in fact,frequently seemed pretty dicey. She fondly described motherhood as her favorite endeavor and inspired her children to set goals, work hard and do the right thing, even when nobody was watching. Admittedly, those philosophies were sometimes challenging but eventually worked out as planned. JoAnn taught her kids to survive in the world while living generously, righteously and with good intentions. JoAnn dried our tears during bad times and kindly dusted us off and threw us back into the ring when crying time was over. She gave us wings and launched us toward our dreams.It’s safe to say she helped mold, shape and create five successful, productive, hardworking adult humans who have contributed meaningfully to the world. Thank goodness she was our fearless mom and always knew what to do.

JoAnn and CJ eventually moved to Colorado to expand their horizons and escape the unforgiving ND winters (andsummers). JoAnn and CJ moved to Ft Collins when he opened a business there in 1968. JoAnn gave birth to Dean,who was born prematurely, literally on moving day. Whenever JoAnn discussed this time in her life, she always remembered how difficult it was to have her family in Ft Collins while Dean was on his own in the NICU in Denver.Though she was terrified of horrific Denver traffic, she drove herself to Children’s Hospital several times a week to hold and cuddle Dean before racing home to care for the other kids, because that’s the kind of mom she was.

Under JoAnn’s watchful eyes, life in the family adopted its own rhythm and identity. JoAnn became a Girl Scout leader, room mother, Cub Scout leader (the good kind, NOT the kind that makes the news), school volunteer and enthusiastically encouraged her children to do good and be good, which happened a lot of the time. No matter what,JoAnn fiercely defended her kids when they were right and allowed them to take their medicine when they weren’t.Whenever shenanigans arose and came to official attention (ie, someone called the police), JoAnn provided alibis for her kids if they convinced her their whereabouts and actions were legitimate. Luckily for them, there was no such thing as cell phone tower GPS data, social media evidence or doorbell ring cameras that proved otherwise. Ultimately,if her kids needed to be under the proverbial bus, you can be certain JoAnn was driving it.

Throughout her life, JoAnn was the vision of courage, which, by definition, means to be afraid and saddle up and ride anyway. She divorced CJ in 1978; they remained friends until his death in 2024. In her brave new world, JoAnn forged ahead with fierce determination as a single mom. She entered the workforce and soon began her long and satisfying career in banking. She loved her customers, coworkers and the intricacies of the finance world. JoAnn alsofamously embraced her work while administering kindness, wisdom and positivity. She listened with compassion and empathy to everyone within her orbit and when asked, offered sage advice on life.JoAnn soon met her second husband, Earl Teter, and they married in 1986. They had many adventures together, then briefly parted ways before reuniting in the early 2000s. JoAnn and Earl lived large, had a blast and did many home improvement and landscaping projects, traveled, hosted dinners and celebrated family gatherings over the years.

JoAnn cared for Earl following his stroke in 2017 and rode herd over his recovery until his death in 2020. She treasured her time with Earl and never quit missing him. JoAnn remained close to Earl’s son, Allen Teter and his family until her final days.

JoAnn retired from banking and after realizing she was WAY too young to do nothing, started her own sewing business.JoAnn thrived in social interactions and wanted more of a challenge, so she also worked for The Buckle as their inhouse seamstress for 18 years. She LOVED being at The Buckle, adored her boss, Brooke, and always appreciated the youthful vibe and passion for nice clothes and amazing jeans she cultivated there. Her retirement from The Bucklein July 2024 was bittersweet but gave her time to work on her own sewing and home projects.

JoAnn was artistic and creative. Sewing was JoAnn’s happy place - most of us can’t remember her NOT wearing her tape measure around her neck and scissors in her hand (which also doubled as her self-defense tool when strangers came to the door). There was nothing she couldn’t make or imagine; sewing, creating, and repairing garments and quilts was not only JoAnn’s lifelong hobby, it was simply her jam. As we all know, JoAnn’s mother ship was the JoAnn Fabric Store, which sustained her, fed her soul and fueled her inspirations. Sewing and creating were truly part of her and she poured love into every gift she sewed, knitted, quilted or designed. Furthermore, JoAnn enthusiastically offered to teach others to sew and for many years, mentored middle school students who wished to make clothing. We suspect JoAnn secretly wanted to foster another generation of passionate seamstresses. I think it worked…

It would be an incomplete story if we didn’t discuss JoAnn’s love of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cherished each of them and always felt an extra boost of energy and affection whenever she spent time with them.JoAnn was the head of the village that helped raise several of her beloved grandchildren; she cared for all of them at some time or other. She ensured we, as new parents, didn’t lose our minds and offered sound advice, free babysitting when needed, and soothed us and reassured us that everything would turn out fine. Eventually. Thank goodness for Grammy and the village she cultivated and nurtured. This author can think of two grandchildren who may not have made it without her (nor would this author have made it without her)… We know who you are.

Throughout her life, JoAnn was the vision of robust health, happiness, optimism, courage and strength, so we were shocked and stunned in March 2025 to learn she had lymphoma. She faced this challenge with grace and determination and opted to fight for her life. However, her body couldn’t withstand chemo so instead, JoAnn chose to go home and embrace life surrounded by her family, friends and beloved Frenchie, Munchkin. Only hours after making plans for the future and arranging her dignified departure from the hospital, JoAnn lapsed into a coma and died three days later.

JoAnn is already missed by so many. She is survived by her five children, Arlene Haukap, Sandie Campanella, DaleGapp, Linda Perry, Dean Gapp, and daughter-in-law Marsha Gapp, whose love language is cooking and who nourished JoAnn’s body, heart and soul, son-in-law Steve Perry, whose gift of upbeat energy and generosity filled a room with joy and fun, and daughter-in-law Rhonda Orona, who enthusiastically laughed and shared stories of life and adventures with her. JoAnn is also survived and missed by her sister, Julie Metrokas and special niece Lorna Sebastian, who both shared JoAnn’s love of antiquing, sewing and crafts; her beloved grandchildren; Jessica, who was her housemate and yin and yang companion, Nicholas, Delaney, Cole, Cory, Logan, Ryan, Jack, Constance and Piper, and her four great-grandchildren, Kylie, Landon, Dusty and Hallie. JoAnn also leaves behind many close friends who mutually enriched each other’s lives for decades: Ruth Sapp, Fran Seaworth, Jane Good, Lily and Christina Weir, Betty and Wayne Cline,Deborah Millis, Carolyn Luckey and so many others. Life is profoundly richer with friends.

True to JoAnn’s incredible legacy and bountiful, joyous life, she shared the following thoughts during those final hours before she went to sleep. JoAnn said, “I’m happy. I’ve had a great life and got everything I ever wanted. I love you kids and am so glad I’m your mom and grandma. I’m so proud of all of you. Now, I’m ready to go home and live life in the time I have left.” She waved her arms around the hospital room and said, “This (the hospital) is no way to live.” JoAnn admitted she was afraid to leave us here without her, but we assured her we would muddle through. Sometimes I’m not sure that’s true. We miss her terribly and muddling through feels like a tall order. Maybe we, too, need to just saddle up and ride…Please join us for JoAnn’s memorial and celebration of her remarkable life at the Empire Grange, 2306 W Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, at noon on May 31, 2025. Recommended attire is denim and pearls to honor JoAnn’s life long love of jeans and exquisite jewelry. Lunch will be served following the ceremony.