Joanne Lee Chess

Joanne Lee (Koprek) Chess of Longview, age 82, passed away in the late evening Saturday, May 11, 2024 at St. John Medical Center, surrounded by loving family, after several years of fighting kidney failure and congestive heart failure. 

Joanne was born December 18, 1941 in St. Cloud, MN to Vernon Max “Sonny” and Doris Pearl (Keeney) Koprek.  She was confirmed in the Lutheran church in 1955, and she graduated May 29, 1959 from Technical High School in St. Cloud.  On November 6, 1965 she married Raymond Arthur Chess of Kelso, WA.  They raised two sons together, Michael and Daniel. 

In addition to being a homemaker for many years, Joanne was an administrative assistant for several local funeral homes: Steele Funeral Home, McVicker’s Chapel on the Hill, and Dahl’s Ditlevsen Moore Funeral Home, until her retirement in 2005. 

Joanne was a long-time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Longview, where she volunteered in numerous capacities: usher, teller, Alter Guild, chaperone for youth activities, hostess in the Memorial Committee, member of the quilting ministry, and FISH.  She and Ray had a special pew, and the whole congregation knew exactly where to find them every Sunday morning. 

When her children were still in school in Longview, Joanne volunteered for field trips, class parties, and Cub Scouts, and she was also a member of Altrusa for many years. 

In addition to following the Seahawks and Mariners, and occasionally her old home teams the Vikings and Twins, Joanne enjoyed knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, gardening, indoor and outdoor plants, beach trips, and family time.  Her homemade birthday cakes, caramel corn, and monster cookies were legendary. 

Joanne is survived by her husband Ray, her two sons Mike (Darcie) and Dan (Allison); her five grandchildren Michaelyn (Trae), Kearby (Betsy), Danielle (Robert), Lessa, Ethan, and Raymond; one great-grandchild Aiden; her siblings Nancy (Chuck), Dale, and David (Jackie); and numerous extended family. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her sister Susan, and her beloved Lhasa-Apso Susie. 

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 7,  2024 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2218 Kessler Blvd, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon reception. 

Cremation has taken place through Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park. 

Please consider a donation in honor of Joanne to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, for its Memorial Fund that supports families with expenses and resources related to memorial services.