JoAnne Poenisch Henry December 20, 1935 - August 19, 2021

JoAnne Henry went to be with the Lord Thursday, August 19, 2021, at the age of 85. She was born December 20, 1935, in Corpus Christi, Texas to Adolph and Ruth Poenisch.

JoAnne started life in Corpus Christi then moved to Jourdanton with her family shortly after. Her father wanted to move somewhere and enjoy the land. After a short time in Jourdanton, her family settled in McMullen County. JoAnne attended school in Cross, Texas and later graduated from Tilden, Texas.

During her college years, she worked at the McMullen county courthouse in the tax office, where she truly "met" the love of her life, Tommy Henry. He was hauling cattle and had to stop at the courthouse to get a cold drink of water just to see JoAnne. After a two-year courtship, JoAnne had completed college at Texas A&I in Kingsville and received her teaching degree. They planned for their marriage. Tommy had been drafted into the Army and came home from basic training. They married on Tuesday, May 21, 1957. While Tommy was in the Army in Colorado and Germany, JoAnne taught school in Jourdanton and during summers would travel with Tommy in Colorado and Europe. They made dear friends through their years.

In 1959 Tommy came home from the service and they moved to the ranch to start their life ranching and teaching school. JoAnne taught for 35 years mostly as a fifth-grade teacher in Pleasanton where she retired and continued helping Tommy with the ranch.

Through the 62 years of marriage, Tommy and JoAnne raised three children. Her love for teaching was felt by so many through her involvement in helping with 4-H, FFA, stock shows, attending camps, and being involved in her children's lives. She was very active in her communities and always there to lend a hand, cook a meal and help out. Her kind heart was to always help someone no matter what the cause. She was a member of St John Lutheran Church and Texas Retired Teachers. She loved history and was very active in the restoration of the San Miguel Cemetery.

JoAnne is preceded in death by her beloved husband Tommy Henry, parents Adolph and Ruth Poenisch, in-laws George and Lillian Henry, brother and sister-in-law Adolph Jr and Scott Poensich.

JoAnne is survived by her son Woode Henry (Darlene), Ruth Henry (Joe), Ada Watt (Randy), her 5 grandchildren, George Henry (Melissa), Collette Corkran (Trent), Meagan Davis (Billy), Mitchell Park, and Chase Watt (Justine). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Lillie Henry, Andrew Davis, Hayden Davis, Bexley Park, and Steelie Jo due in November along with numerous nieces nephews, sisters-in-law, JoAnn Clopton, Frankie Dicke (Charlie), Ida Mae Kaiser (Billy Wayne), and many extended family and friends.

The family would like to thank Argent Court staff along with New Century Hospice staff and the caretakers for the love they gave JoAnne.

JoAnne was such a giving person, she has chosen to donate her body to science to continue helping others. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Pleasanton Civic Center at 5:30 pm.  Please joins for a meal to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to San Miguel Cemetery (PO Box 44, Jourdanton, Texas 78026), Jourdanton FFA Scholarship (200 Zanderson, Jourdanton, Texas 78026), or St. John Lutheran Church ( 1702 SH 97 E, Jourdanton, Texas 78026).

Celebrate her life and her memory, because she was truly a gift from God to each of us... the kind of gift that will last forever. It will last forever because JoAnne shall live forever in Christ.  What ever is Heaven like, I'm not exactly sure, but of this I am sure... it feels a lot like home.

Once there was a woman, who everyday would take long walks with the Lord. On these walks, she and the Lord God would talk about all kinds of things- about the important times in the woman's life: when she met her husband, the birth of her children, special holidays, and so on. One day while they were walking for an especially long time, the Lord looked at the woman and said, "We are closer to my house than we are to yours. Why don't you just come home with me?" And that is what she did.

Through the waters of holy baptism and her faith in Jesus, JoAnne is home. She will be missed, but let us cherish her gracious memory until we meet again and are reunited with her at home with Christ Jesus.