Joann Danna Sandlin (Borke) passed peacefully in her home, in the
company and care of family and dear friends on January 8, 2025.
Joann was born on January 8, 1937, in the Seaside Hospital of Long
Beach, California where her father was serving in the US Navy. Her
mother, Madeline Marie Ritter, was born in Ohio, while her father,
John Daniel Borke, hailed from Minnesota. The family soon returned to
the Midwest, where Joann was raised in Ohio and Indiana with siblings
Madeleine “Mickey” Brown, Daniel Borke, Jan Gilkison (deceased), and
step siblings Corky Heintz, Cathy Gilley, Mary Heintz (deceased), Carl
Heintz, and Charla Heintz.
In pursuit of higher education, Joann attended Purdue University and
was a proud member of Twin Pines sorority. It is there that she met
Steven Monroe Sandlin, whom she married and cherished for the rest of
their lives. After they were graduated from Purdue, the couple moved
often in their early years together, with Steve serving as an officer
in the US Navy. Joann set up households across the globe, including
Okinawa and Rhode Island. After Steven finished his naval service, the
family moved to Mountain View, California and witnessed the birth of
Silicon Valley. Having acquired a taste for bright summer days, the
family moved to Richland, Washington in 1978, where Joann committed
herself to raising her family and continuously improving the
community. She was a steady presence in the Parent Teacher
Associations at Jefferson Elementary School, Chief Joseph Middle
School and Hanford High School. Reflecting her commitment to the
children of Richland, she continued her efforts at these schools long
after her children were graduated, always available to help. Joann had
a joy in her heart that she expressed throughout her life in many
ways, from the silly to the sublime. She had an unrelenting enthusiasm
for plush toys, from giant moose to the tiniest Beanie Babies.
Sprouting in part from her rural upbringing, Joann had a green thumb
that could not be kept down. Joann, Steven and the children raised a
stunning kitchen garden in West Richland, which yielded corn,
tomatoes, onions, squash, gourds of all kinds and anything else that
caught their fancy. In bumper years, friends and neighbors could
barely keep up with the produce. Joann always had lovely flower
gardens at home and was a long-time member of the Richland Garden
Club, frequently hosting their holiday banquets. Indoors, she raised
prized African violets. Joann loved to travel, and was blessed to have
visited family in the Midwest and the South in the last year, an
adventure that was deeply fulfilling for her.
Joann and Steven were proud parents of Suzann Marie, Sharlyn Marie,
Syndi Marie, Stephanie and Mykol Larvie. They were equally proud of
their grandchildren, Daniel, Roxanne, Evan and Alec, and great
grandchildren, Emma, Bodhi, Owen, Eli, and Jase. Of the many titles
Joann carried; none was more important than mother. She lovingly
nurtured generations of family, accepting and including all the family
that life brought to her.
Joan was predeceased by husband Steven and daughter Suzann.
Please join us in celebrating Joann’s legacy of love and family. In
lieu of flowers or gifts, please reach out to your own family and
friends to share your love. Funeral and celebration of life to be held
on January 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Einans Funeral Home in Richland,
Washington.