JoAnne Rivers

JoAnne Rivers, 71, of Linn, KS, died Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at her home in Linn. Visitation was Sunday, February 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Linn. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Monday, February 22 at Ward Funeral Home in Linn. Rev. Jim Stark officiated. The pallbearers were Ken Meadows, Claire Wohler, Curtis Meadows, Kent Singular, Kenny Meadows, and Jamie Bolejack. Burial was in the Linn City Cemetery. JoAnne was born March 9, 1944 in Cawker City, Kansas to Gerald and Martha (Hunter) Bussart. In April of 1975, she married Henry Rivers in California. They later divorced. She was first a mother and raised her four children on her own until 1975. She worked as a manager at several coin laundries in Lancaster, CA. She also worked at the LA Times and Antelope Valley Press, also in Lancaster. Joanne enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include her daughter, Jewell Meadows, Linn; sons, Joe (Carol) Starks, Nova Scotia, Mark Starks; sister, Patricia (Terry) Eidet, Beverly, KS; brother, Norman (Peggy) Hunter, Lowell, AR; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Darold Starks; and three sisters. A memorial fund is established and will be designated later by the family. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, PO Box 157, Washington, KS 66968. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of JoAnne Rivers, please visit our flower store.