Joan M. Sanwick passed on July 5, 2026. 

Joan M. (Kidder) Sanwick was born in Hanover, New Hampshire on September 12, 1932, to Elmer and Zelma (Butman) Kidder. 

She lived her first 18 years in Enfield, New Hampshire, where she attended Enfield High School, graduating in 1950. She then attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating with a Liberal Arts degree in 1954. Following graduation, she went to Boston and worked for Heartstone Insurance Company, and then for the assistant district attorney. Joan later changed jobs to Colourpicture Publishers in Boston, working as a proofreader and assistant to the production manager.

Joan left Boston in 1958, traveling to Adana, Turkey, to Incirlik Air Base to visit her uncle, who was the base chaplain. She worked as head of the base Service Club and then to Tumpane Company – the American-based maintenance company, in the personnel department. She met her husband, Richard (Dick) Sanwick, who was the head of the base dental clinic. They were married in July of 1959. Her husband was transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany, in September of 1959. The couple drove from Turkey to Germany.

When Dick was discharged, they returned to the United States, where he set up his dental practice in Altoona in 1961. Joan dedicated many years as a volunteer for the Indian Waters Girl Scouts Council, where she held various positions including Director of the Summer Day Camp, Council Cookie Chairman, Altoona Troop Organizer and member of the Board of Directors. Joan was an artist and interested in many craft endeavors, including stained glass, painting, counted cross stitch. She was an avid Bridge player and hunting partner with her husband for over 60 years.

Joan was a never-ending fount of knowledge and had an exceptionally great memory, recalling in detail the many travels over the years with her husband Dick.

Joan is survived by her daughters Sidney Bauer (Paul Peelman) and Hillary Sanwick and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.