JoAnn Elizabeth Truhlicka

In Loving Memory of JoAnn Elizabeth Truhlicka

On October 7, 1952, the world was blessed with JoAnn Elizabeth Hale, and on March 30, 2025, our lives changed forever as we said goodbye to her.  At 72 years old, she leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience that will never be forgotten.

Mom was truly one of a kind. She spent more than 25 years as a licensed optician, dedicating herself to helping others see the world more clearly. But beyond her work, she filled her life with things she loved — and she loved them fiercely. She could get lost in a good book, fill her home with thriving plants thanks to her incredible green thumb, and never missed a chance to turn up Elvis Presley or her favorite rock and roll songs. One of her happiest places was behind the wheel of her convertible, driving along the beach with the music blaring and the wind in her hair. She also loved nothing more than spending time with her closest friends, laughing, talking, and sharing life's moments together.

Her family will forever remember her tiny size 4 shoes and how we always teased her about her “cutest little feet.” We’ll also remember her strength. She faced more than her share of medical struggles, but she fought through each one with courage, grit, and determination. She truly was a fighter until the very end. As some of us would say, she had the strength of an "Oak Tree."

Of all the titles she held in life, “Grandma” was her favorite. She was a proud grandmother to six and a great-grandmother to one; she loved them all so much.

She is survived by her daughter, Angie Sienkiewicz, her son, Chad Truhlicka, and her son-in-law, Rick Sienkiewicz. She was a beloved grandmother to Tyler Eiland, Summer Eiland, Elizabeth Rivera, Annalisa Sienkiewicz, Reagan Sienkiewicz, and Emma Truhlicka, and a cherished great-grandmother to Heidi Rae Eiland.

JoAnn and Larry's ashes will be laid to rest at Maplewood Cemetery, a place where those who loved them can gather, remember, and celebrate lives so beautifully lived.  Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m., September 19, 2025, at Maplewood Cemetery, located at 1150 Yankee Rd, Barnes, KS 66933.

Mom’s story was one filled with music, laughter, strength, and love. She will forever be missed, but her spirit will live on in each of us.