Joanne Irene Gagner

Longtime Yreka resident Joanne Irene Gagner, 90, passed away in Redding, California on February 16, 2026. Joanne was born on December 12, 1935, to Laurence and Ruth Gevock in Moline, Illinois. Joanne married Leland Gagner in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 6, 1959. Together they raised two daughters and eventually settled in Siskiyou County in 1969, where Joanne devoted herself to being a full-time mother and homemaker. Joanne found joy in the simple, steady rhythms of home. She loved gardening, canning, crocheting, knitting, and working on puzzles. She was a true stay-at-home mom in every sense-sewing clothes for her children, filling the pantry with fruits and vegetables she canned from the family garden, and creating a warm, welcoming home filled with handmade touches. She also loved entering her handmade projects in the annual Siskiyou County Fair, where her talent and creativity were recognized with numerous awards over the years. Whether it was a beautifully crocheted afghan, a jar of perfectly canned green beans, or a carefully tended garden harvest, she took pride in sharing her work with the community. Later in life, after Joanne had raised her daughters, she entered the workforce and took a position at the Baymont Inn. She enjoyed greeting and registering guests during their stay, bringing the same warmth and care to her work that she had always shown at home. After her husband Leland passed away in 2006, Joanne devoted herself to caring for her elderly mother, Ruth. She lovingly looked after her until Ruth's passing in November 2007. Following her retirement from the Baymont Inn, Joanne embraced a quieter chapter of life and became the devoted "mom" to her sweet dog, Rosie, and her cat, Lilly. They brought her companionship, comfort, and joy in her later years, and she cared for them with the same gentle devotion she had always shown her family. Joanne is preceded in death by her father Laurence (1955); her mother Ruth Fried (2007); her husband, Leland Gagner (2006); her brothers, Kenneth Gevock (2025) and George (Buddy) Fried (2015); and her grandson, Justin Middleton (2025). Joanne is survived by her daughters, Brenda Huston (Jeff) and Sandra Gagner; her grandchildren, Joshua Middleton, Travis Middleton (Laura), and Courtney Huston-Morgan (Matthew); and ten great-grandchildren. There are no services scheduled at this time.

Joanne Irene Gagner

December 12, 1935 - February 16, 2026