JOAN KITCHEN Joan Kitchen, a 40-year resident of Honolulu, died Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in Kona, Hawaii. She was 96 years old. Joan was born in Joliet, Illinois and grew up in the Depression era Midwest, eventually attending Michigan State University, where she met her first husband Edson Kitchen, who later served in WWII. Post-war, Joan and Ed lived in West Bend, Wisconsin and had three children. At first Joan was a homemaker but eventually resumed her university studies where she earned an education degree and became an elementary school teacher. She moved with her husband to Honolulu in 1974, helping him in his executive recruiting firm, Dunhill of Hawaii, before taking over as manager of a spin-off business Dunhill Temporary Services. After successfully operating that business, in 1990 she founded Prostaffing Technical Services, which she operated for more than a decade before retiring at age 78. Ed passed away in 1997 and four years later Joan remarried, to Stan Stong who was to pass away in 2009. Joan loved to travel, both solo and with her two husbands, visiting such places and the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Japan, Paris and many other world destinations. She went bicycle touring in China, dove in Palau and cruised in the Antarctic. She was admired by and inspired all with her sense of adventure, business acumen, and worldly wisdom. She is survived by her children, John Kitchen (Pimluck Kasemsith) of Kona, Barbara (Donald) McLean and Andy (Annie) Kitchen of Portland, Oregon; four grandchildren, four great grandchildren; sister, Lynn (Ray) Painter of Denver, Colorado; nieces, nephews and cousins. Joan's ashes will be scattered in the ocean off Waikiki. The family requests that donations be made to the National Park Foundation at www.nationalparks.org.
JOAN KITCHEN Joan Kitchen, a 40-year resident of Honolulu, died Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in Kona, Hawaii. She was 96 years old. Joan was born in Joliet, Illinois and grew up in the Depression era Midwest, eventually attending Michigan State University, where she met her first husband Edson Kitchen, who later served in WWII. Post-war, Joan and Ed lived in West Bend, Wisconsin and had three children. At first Joan was a homemaker but eventually resumed her university studies where she earned an education degree and became an elementary school teacher. She moved with her husband to Honolulu in 1974, helping him in his executive recruiting firm, Dunhill of Hawaii, before taking over as manager of a spin-off business Dunhill Temporary Services. After successfully operating that business, in 1990 she founded Prostaffing Technical Services, which she operated for more than a decade before retiring at age 78. Ed passed away in 1997 and four years later Joan remarried, to Stan Stong who was to pass away in 2009. Joan loved to travel, both solo and with her two husbands, visiting such places and the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Japan, Paris and many other world destinations. She went bicycle touring in China, dove in Palau and cruised in the Antarctic. She was admired by and inspired all with her sense of adventure, business acumen, and worldly wisdom. She is survived by her children, John Kitchen (Pimluck Kasemsith) of Kona, Barbara (Donald) McLean and Andy (Annie) Kitchen of Portland, Oregon; four grandchildren, four great grandchildren; sister, Lynn (Ray) Painter of Denver, Colorado; nieces, nephews and cousins. Joan's ashes will be scattered in the ocean off Waikiki. The family requests that donations be made to the National Park Foundation at www.nationalparks.org.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
