Joan AuRea Wright, 86, of Yuma, Arizona, and formerly of Perry died March 4, 2025, at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix.
She was born July 30, 1938, in Perry, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Mary (Blumenstock) Dissinger, and grew up on a farm north of Perry.
Joan graduated from Perry High School in the Class of 1956. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now Truman University in Kirksville, Missouri, and her master’s degree in music at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
She married Gary Wright on April 10, 1983.
Joan’s teaching career began in 1960 at Woodward-Granger and the Des Moines School Districts. She taught in the Yuma schools as an elementary music teacher and music coordinator until her retirement.
She was a talented, accomplished pianist and organist and shared her talent, as she had perfect pitch and played by ear. Her music ability was phenomenal! She would sit at the piano and play anything!
In addition to the classroom, Joan was very active with the Yuma Symphony Orchestra for many years. She would also perform duet concerts with another local piano player. She was an inspiration to her students, family, friends and community. She touched the lives of so many with her music.
Joan was a beautiful soul, so kind, generous, caring and compassionate. She is missed and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her sisters, Joyce Bowenkamp and Janet Schlichter; and her husband, Jim.
Joan is survived by her husband, Gary; sisters, Jean Dissinger of Dexter and Judy (Skip) Frohling of Sheldahl; nieces, Julie (Robert) Schlichter of Altoon, Jill (Jeff) Burkhart of Woodward and Susan (Dennis) De Groote of Barnett, Missouri; nephews, Chip (Lucia) Frohling of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Jake (Kristi) Frohling of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Jenna and James Burkhart and Hayden, Dawson and Ansley Frohling.
To celebrate Joan’s life, a visitation will be Monday, March 17 at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. in the Perry Chapel of the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home at 1721 Park St. in Perry. Inurnment will follow at the Peoples Cemetery in Bouton, Iowa.
Memorials will be given by the family to the Perry High School Music Department.
