Helen Joanne "Joanne" Round

Joanne Penisten Round, a long-time resident of Ponca City, died peacefully on October 6, 2020, after a period of declining health. Her family was by her side.Born to Pauline Opal Barrick Penisten and Colen Elwood Penisten on November 3, 1933, Joanne spent her early childhood in Newkirk, Oklahoma, with her two sisters, Colleen and Joyce, and her brother Glenn. Their paternal grandmother, Debby Pappan Penisten, was a member of the Kaw Nation.When Joanne was 13 years of age, her father died tragically in a refinery fire in Wichita Falls, Texas. The family soon relocated to Ponca City.After graduating from Ponca City High School in 1951, Joanne went to work at Conoco. There, she met the love of her life, and future husband, Jack Leroy Round (January 2, 1930 - June 23, 2013). The young couple eloped on December 15 of that year in Winfield, Kansas, and made their home in Ponca City until their retirement to Edmond, Oklahoma, in 2011. They had four children—Cynthia, Lerri, Kip, and Lisa—all of whom they proudly put through college. A natural caretaker, Joanne always said that her primary calling in life was to be a mother.Once their children grew up and moved away to begin careers and families of their own, Joanne and Jack opened their hearts and home as foster parents. Over time, they cared for six young children between the ages of a few months and 5 years.A life-long Methodist, Joanne, with Jack, was an active member for many years at Asbury United Methodist Church, and later at St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Ponca City. She believed "Love one another" to be the most powerful lesson of all. "The most important thing is to love and be loved," she would say.Joanne felt that her biggest accomplishment in life was her four children and seven grandchildren. "Jojo and Papa Jack" were devoted to their family, and they hosted "cousin camp" each summer to spend time with their grandkids. They would go camping and fishing, play dominos, and make chocolate frosted donuts.A nurturer of all things living, Joanne was an avid gardener. She could spend hours tending to her plants, and she created showplace gardens at two of her homes in Ponca City. She and Jack loved animals, and they kept a menagerie of pets, including dogs, rabbits, and miniature goats. In her last years, Joanne passed the days with her beloved Mimi, a Teacup Maltese.A dedicated member of the Ponca City community, Joanne volunteered at Westminster Village for several years, holding monthly coffee hours and programming for seniors. She also co-led writing workshops at the local public library, and knit baby blankets for neonatal units and mittens for homeless people.Her list of artistic talents is lengthy. In addition to being a knitter, Joanne was a seamstress—making clothing and an extensive Barbie doll wardrobe for her children and grandchildren, as well as home furnishings. She came from a long line of quilters; she crocheted and embroidered. She was a writer and poet, and a self-taught pianist. Both Joanne and Jack loved to square dance, and the couple was known to light up the room at many a celebration.Joanne is survived by three siblings and her four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She and her husband have a grave stone at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City, and their family will hold a grave-side celebration of life there next year. Those wishing to honor Joanne's memory are encouraged to donate to JDRF to support research for juvenile diabetes, a cause of great importance to her. Please visit this link to learn more: https://bit.ly/2SxBcRP.