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Joan Irene Tomlinson White
June 14, 1947 - May 2, 2023
Joan Irene Tomlinson White, an artist, Danish Sister and longtime community advocate, died following an illness on May 2, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Joan was born in Superior, Nebraska on June 14, 1947, to John W.J. and Merle I. (Pedersen) Tomlinson. Her family lived in several communities in Nebraska and the Midwest before settling in Lincoln. From an early age, Joan exhibited an aptitude for art. After graduating from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1965, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in fine arts with a concentration in printmaking and graphics.
Joan was a lifelong feminist. She was active in local, state and national politics, and was a leader of local and statewide women's organizations. In the 1970s, she served on the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women. Joan was a national committeewoman with the Young Democrats. In 1975 she was listed in "Who's Who in American Politics."
For many years Joan oversaw magazine printing and graphic art for Quebecor Printing Co. of Lincoln. Joan's personal work was often exhibited in area art shows. In 1976, she lent her illustrating skills to the book, Nebraska Women Hall of Fame, which was published by the Nebraska International Women's Year Coalition in collaboration with the book’s author Peggy Volzke Kelley.
In 1983 Joan married Richard L. White. The Whites lived in southwest Lincoln.
Joan was very proud of her Danish heritage and was often trusted to lead initiatives promoting fellowship among fellow Danes, Scandinavian-Americans and their descendants. She was president of the Norden Club of Lincoln Foundation, which awards scholarships and grants to people pursuing Scandinavian studies. She also served as past president of the Danish Sisterhood of Nebraska and was a familiar face among her fellow Danish Sisters at Danmark’s Dotre Lodge No. 90's meetings and celebrations. In 2021 Joan was honored in Omaha as Scandinavian of the Year. In later life, she was a retail representative at Hy-Vee supermarkets.
Joan Tomlinson White is survived by her husband Richard L. White, brother Mike (Mary) Tomlinson of Lincoln, sister Pam (Douglas) Johnson of Lincoln, and sister Linda Tomlinson of Ankeny, Iowa. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Joan was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers J. David, Phillip and George Tomlinson.
A celebration of Joan's life will be held at 2:30 pm on Thursday, May 11 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, NE.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Norden Club of Lincoln Foundation, 2521 Big Timber Rd., Lincoln, NE 68520.
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Sally Swihart (Swihart)
I am shocked and saddened to learn of Joan's passing. Hers was a very interesting life well lived. I am so glad I got to spend time with her at our 50th reunion and catch up.
Charis Christensen (Sawyer)
I will miss her great smile and infectious laugh. Good friend through thick and thin!
David McLeod
I am saddened to hear of Joan's passing. We all thought we would be around for the next 80,000,000 years! What a life f light and involvement. People of her ilk are not common. Her life force will be missed!
David McLeod
Dean-Ross Schessler
I am not as sad as I am grief-stricken. The loss of a good friend is only superseded by the loss of an immediate family member. I am gratified to have been able to know Joan. She was a star in the Heaven of my life. She was indeed very special in her very own uniquely mercurial way. We were neighbors growing up in that we only lived about 7 blocks from each other. We attended Millard Lefler but I just cannot recall if Randolph as well. It was many conversations with Joan about all the facets of art and the doors she open for me to its diverseness that spurred me into art collecting. Since the early 80s I have accumulated in the neighborhood of 50 pieces: Aldo Luongo, Joan Miro, William Buffett, Alexander Calder, Red Skelton, Peter Max, Edward DeWitt, LeRoy Neiman, Pablo Picasso, Bennet Bradbury and others that Joan introduced me to, but sadly I never received the long-promised Tomlinson. I took some photographs of Joan who also dabbled in fashion one of which she used in The Sheild. When I was the Business Manager of the Kosmet Klub in my senior year at the University of Nebraska, I solicited the fine arts major and received Joan's expert assistance with the sets of the Fall Revue Show and the spring Broadway production West Side Story. She was a taskmaster of force wielding her talents over the production crew and was an integral part in making the 1969 spring show the most successful and profitable in the decades-long history of the Klub. I am grateful for the many memories which will help temper the impact of this stark reality. "Requiescat in pace" until fate may bring us together again!
Susan Jenkins (Byrne)
Joan was a good friend and mischief in arms throughout high school and beyond. She had a wicked sense of humor and an amazing gift of art. I remember she made her friends Christmas cards designed by her. She will be missed by so many, me included.
Bruce Watson
It's painful when good people like Joan leave us, whether we are in contact ot not. For me, not since HS. When I first saw this notice, I went to the photo file in my mind and it was blury. Then I pulled up the notice and went OH YEAH! JOAN. Such a fun person. I hope everyone posting to this is feeling and doing well. God bless.
Michael Tavlin
Bruce has done a great job of expressing my sentiments regarding Joan. I saw the photo and had that flashback to the good times we had together at LSE. Such a nice person and good friend back in the day. We lose touch over time and then we are confronted with notices like this one. What a life and what a loss.
Carol Thompson (Miller)
I was so saddened to hear of Joan's passing. We didn't spend hours of free time together but the time spent was always so enjoyable and full of laughter until my sides hurt. I was lucky to have spent enough time to meet her brother John and his family, -plus her sisters were home too. I loved that family including her parents. Joan accomplished so much in her life and I am sure she has already brightened heaven with her art. God Bless you ,Joan.
Carol Thompson (Miller)
I was so saddened to hear of Joan's passing. We didn't spend hours of free time together but the time spent was always so enjoyable and full of laughter until my sides hurt. I was lucky to have spent enough time to meet her brother John and his family, -plus her sisters were home too. I loved that family including her parents. Joan accomplished so much in her life and I am sure she has already brightened heaven with her art. God Bless you ,Joan.