Joanne Louise Rootes

Joanne Louise Thesen Rootes 93, of Castle Pines Colorado, passed away on June 15, 2023. A burial and service will be held later in June at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy Illinois. Joanne was born on August 27, 1929 to Dr. Roy and Frances Thesen in Quincy. After graduating from Quincy High School in 1947 she went on to study for a degree in Elementary Education, first at Monmouth College then at the University of Missouri, graduating in 1951. While at Monmouth College Joanne was inducted into Pi Beta Phi, regarded as the first national sorority for women which was founded at Monmouth in 1867. While at Missouri University, Joanne met and married Charles Rootes during their last year at MU. After graduation they moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Joanne began her teaching career while Charles added to his accounting degree by completing his goal of earning his CPA. Joanne and Charles had three children, Dave Rootes (Amy), Sue Parks (Randy), Tim Rootes (deceased). They eventually moved to Leawood Kansas where Joanne remained for 60 years until moving to Tallgrass Creek retirement home. Joanne relished being a mother and homemaker while Charles excelled in business, becoming President of Rival Manufacturing Company located in Kansas City. Joanne took part in helping with the development of first “Crock Pot” slow cooker which was invented and produced in 1971 by Rival Manufacturing and helped with the writing of the Crock Pot Cook Book that came with the first Crock Pots. She loved to cook and was once featured in an article on cooking printed in the Kansas City Star newspaper titled “Come Into My Kitchen”. Joanne and Charles divorced in 1990. Charles passed away in 2011. Joanne is survived by her son David, daughter Sue, six grandchildren, Kristen, Ashley, Courtney, Morgan, Hannah, and Brayden and two great grandchildren, Luke and Emily. Joanne loved playing bridge, having learned the game many years ago while in high school and continued enjoying her many bridge groups for the rest of her life. Joanne’s final years were spent with her dear friend and companion George Lightfoot, doing things they both enjoyed, traveling and spending quality time together, including her final year before moving to Colorado, with both of them living independently at Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community in Overland Park, Kansas. Joanne will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.