Obituary of Joan Chamber

Joan (Jo) Chambers and her twin John were born in Alexandria Nebraska to Leon and Faye Vostrez.

The family soon moved to Idaho where Leon found work at Anderson Ranch Dam as an electrician. On the completion of the dam, the family settled in Meridian Idaho on a small farm. Joan was determined to become a registered nurse. After saving her money from work at St. Luke’s hospital equipment sterilization department she attended nursing school.

She graduated in 1959 from University of Colorado with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Joan then attended Berkeley Baptist Divinity School (BBDS) as a graduate student in theology. While in Berkeley, Joan met the love of her life, Glen Chambers who was visiting from Australia. After an 8 week courtship they were engaged at the Rockefeller Center in New York where Joan promised to meet Glen in Australia in 6 months. She boarded a ship in 1960, arriving in Adelaide, Australia a few months before their wedding at Unley Park Baptist Church on February 25, 1961. After living in Australia, Joan, Glen and children returned to the United States to live in Idaho in 1969. Jo worked as a Registered Nurse with older adults in long term care for the rest of her career. She was a staunch advocate that her patients receive exceptional care. To improve the care her patient’s received, she returned to University of Colorado for her Gerontological Nurse Practitioner certificate, completed in 1985. After almost 40 years she retired from Nursing in 1998.

Throughout her life, Joan lovingly cared for her family, her patients and for the many family cats. In 2013 Glen and Jo moved to Colorado Springs, finding simple joy in reading and spending time with family.

Jo is survived by her son Kim Chambers and daughter Lynn Phillips, her brothers John and Leon, as well as 3 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson.

A memorial service is planned for a later date.