Joanne Evelyn Schoenwald, 87, of Broomfield, Colorado passed away on November 29, 2025 after a short illness at the Sunrise at Flatirons in Broomfield, Colorado, surrounded by family.

Joanne was born on May 2, 1938 in Gary, Indiana to Clark C. Rittenhouse and Mary Margaret Rittenhouse (Oberle). She graduated high school from St. Francis High School, Lafayette, Indiana in 1956. She received a B.S. degree in pharmacy from Purdue University in 1960. She would later receive a B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Iowa in 1986. Joanne had a 50-year career in pharmacy working in retail drug stores and hospital pharmacies from 1960 until her retirement in 2010.

Joanne married Dr. Ronald D. Schoenwald, pharmacy professor, on August 23, 1963 in Phoenix, Arizona. They had two children: David in 1964, and Debra in 1965, both born in San Jose, California.

Their careers took them crisscrossing the country living in Arizona, California, Indiana, Washington, Texas and Iowa, with finally retiring back in Arizona. Joanne enjoyed raising exotic endangered birds, studying health, fitness and nutrition, reading books on philosophy and the classics, attending Spanish classes, hiking, and fictional writing. Joanne wrote two books which she self-published, now available on Amazon: The Death Cart, and the Treasure of the Knight Templar. Joanne also passionately volunteered many years with Meals on Wheels in Iowa City, Iowa, as well as a decade as a hospital volunteer at Banner Del E Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Arizona.

Joanne moved to Colorado in late 2019 after her husband, Ron, passed away. While in Colorado, she enjoyed hiking, exercising, being with her family, and organizing game nights with her friends at the Sunrise.

Joanne is survived by a son, Dr. David A. Schoenwald, daughter and son-in-law Debra Williams and Matthew Williams, sister and brother-in-law Carolyn Brand and Roland Brand, half-sister, Barb Kemerer, brother James Rittenhouse, half-brother Edward Hirschinger, and four granddaughters: Samantha Williams, Rachel Williams, Julia Schoenwald and Katherine Schoenwald.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Ronald D. Schoenwald, father Clark Rittenhouse, mother Mary Margaret Hirschinger, stepfather Leo Hirschinger, and sister Meriel Rittenhouse.

A Memorial Service (Open House) will be held on Thursday, December 18, at 1:30pm-3:30pm at Sunrise Independent Living (1st Floor Bistro), 400 Summit Blvd, Broomfield, CO 80021.
Interment will follow for family members at the City of Louisville Cemetery in Louisville, CO.