JoAn Haik Paden (82) passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2019 surrounded by her husband of 65 years, Alvin R. Paden, and their four children. JoAn was born in Palmer, Alaska on August 10, 1936, after her parents came to Alaska in search of work in the depression years. The family ultimately homestead in Chugiak, Alaska, in 1947 where JoAn’s father, Vernon E. Haik (first mayor of Chugiak), and mother, Alma (Tighe) Haik, built and operated the log-cabin restaurant Spring Creek Lodge (Mile 20 on the Old Glenn Hwy). JoAn and her siblings, Eilee (Lane), Vernon Jr., Beverly (Avera), and Eugene, all helped to run the lodge which is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was there that Joa met the love of her life, Alvin, who came to the Lodge from Elmendorf Air Force Base to enjoy Alma’s famous home-made bread and banana cream-pie. JoAn and Alvin married in August 13, 1953, and ultimately settled in Goleta, California, where they lived for 60 years.
JoAn was devoted wife and mother who continued to nurture everyone around her throughout her life. She enjoyed getting the family together for holidays, picnics, and group trips to Catalina Island and Hawaii. Her interests in genealogy lead to many trips around the country in search of public records as well as a trip to Ireland to explore her Irish heritage. JoAn had a deep love of nature that began on “her hill” behind the lodge in Alaska. Each year she looked forward to the wildflower bloom of Figueroa Mountain, as well as the return of the Monarch Butterflies.
JoAn pursued continuing education at Santa Barbara City College, completing her AA degree in 1975 and earning a certificate for Emergency Medical Technician-1 Ambulance in 1983. In 1984 she accepted a position at Goleta Valley Junior High as a Health Assistant where she worked until 1998, when she left to join her husband and two sons in their newly formed business, LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc. There JoAn served as the Human Resources Manager and helped with daily operations.
JoAn’s husband, Alvin, passed away 14 days after her, on June 12, 2019. She is survived by her younger brother, Eugene Haik; her 4 children: Cindy Paden (Waldorf) of Corvallis, Oregon; Janet Ellison of Redwood City, California; Brad Paden and Dave Paden of Goleta, California; 15 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way!). Her strength, determination, and love of nature, family, and life itself will always be remembered.
A Joint service for JoAn and Alvin is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara/Ridley-Tree Cancer Center of Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.
