Joan Audrey Duncanson

Joan Audrey Duncanson, 82, of Whitefish, passed away on May 27, 2018 in Fontana, California.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on June 10, 2018 at Fontana Mortuary located at 8030 Mango Ave., Fontana, CA. 92336. Proceeding the funeral, there will be a reception held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge at 17729 Arrow Blvd., Fontana, CA. 92335

Joan was born in Lewistown, Montana, to Glenn and Thelma Kelsey on May 5, 1936. She attended school in Whitefish. She married Richard “Dick” Painter on July 3, 1952 in Whitefish. She moved from Whitefish to San Bernardino, California, in 1965 as she put it “to get out of the cold.” She was one of the first female bartenders in San Bernardino County and held a variety of positions at several Inland Empire establishments. This list includes the following: in San Bernardino - Clyde and Nellies, Cocky Cactus, The Hut in Bloomington - The Sundowner, Spuds in Fontana - Vans, The Uptown (where she meet Howard Duncanson).

In the mid 80s Joan started her first solely owned business: Joanie’s Little Sew and Sew in Fontana. In 1994, she closed Joanie’s Little Sew and Saw and purchased Carlos Open Hearth Cocktail Lounge in Fontana. She changed the name to Joanie’s Open Heart Cocktail Lounge. In 2009, she sold Joanie’s Open Hearth at the age of 73 to pursue retirement. Retirement wasn’t satisfying enough for Joanie so she became involved with the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Fontana where she held a variety of leadership positions.

Joan is preceded in death by Russell and Gerald “Jerry” Kelsey (bothers), Glenda Williams (sister), Rick and Richard Painter (sons) and Tami Painter (daughter).

Joan is survived by, Howard Duncanson (spouse), Candis L. Culp-Painter (daughter) and Wes Culp, James T. Allen II. (son) and Gina Allen, Judith Holeton (sister), Patty Ross (sister) Jeannette Kruger (sister) Dixie Vergusion (sister); grandchildren, Tara and Josh Marks, Cody Kelsoe, Ricky Painter, Mariam Howard-Redondo, Jennifer Cairy, Randy Painter, Lisa Cloyd, Britney Kline, Nicole Painter, James “Tre” Allen, III., Hailey Allen; great-grandchildren, Nahum and Henry Serralta, Amber Vasquez, Sicily Marks, Cheyanne Zeeb, Felicity Hyatt, Lexie Redondo, Mackenzie and Paige Cairy, Aaron Cunningham, Jordan Painter, the Cloyd brothers and sisters: Timmy, Jason, Nicolas and Jeffrey, Destiny and Jasmin Cloyd; and great-great grandchild Nevaeh Zeeb-Sucil.

The family of Joan extends our sincere thanks to all the men and women at Kaiser Permanente, epically Dr. Carie Lea McVay and the ICU Team at Kaiser (you guys are amazing!), all of Joan’s friends and customers that supported her throughout her years as a bartender and especially all that supported her at Joanie’s Little Sew and Sew and Joanie’s Open Hearth Cocktail Lounge, The Fraternal Order of Eagles in Fontana and to all of her friends and family in Montana. May her legacy of friendship, love and compassion live in us all!