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Obituary and life story submitted by the family

J

oanne Lucille Ulvog, age 85, passed on August 31, 2026 at her home in Oriental, North Carolina surrounded by her family.

She was born a fraternal twin with her brother Jerry Emil (Sandy) Johnson on May 11, 1941, six years after her older brother Donald William (Barbara) Johnson, to the late Emil Oliver Johnson and Lucille Pauline Johnson in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Joanne graduated from Edina HS, then matriculated at St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. While working a summer job at Glacier National Park before completing her degree, she met Alfred Darold Ulvog, Jr, then a traveling auditor with the Department of Agriculture.

They married the following February in 1962 and shared over 60 years of marriage. They brought into the world four children. Joanne raised her children in a home filled with love and joy, while also completing a B.A. from George Mason University and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia.

Joanne and her fraternal twin brother Jerry.

Joanne was very involved in her church and community, and also fostered that same spirit in her children. She allowed them to explore the world and invested her time in supporting them.

For many years she was a highly sought after kindergarten teacher and administrator in Fairfax County, Virginia. Her teaching philosophy was simple yet profound: “Within every human chest lies a human heart, and within that heart lies the cure for what our children need, someone to care about them as a person.”

The Ulvog family. From left: Katie, Allison, David, Joanne, Anne, and Al.

After retiring, Joanne and Al put all their effort into enjoying time with their children and grandchildren, traveling, and countless special moments in their new “hometown” of Oriental with friends, entertaining, going to music events and plays or the movies. She was ready anytime for dining out or a little wine, loving book club, Women’s club, crafting, sewing, knitting, and of course her beloved Bridge game!

Joanne at her previous home in Vienna, Virginia.

She never liked to just sit around and was always ready to try something new. When Al was in the later stage of Parkinson’s disease, she organized the CHOIR, which stands for “Crazy Hilarious Old Interesting Retirees,” to be with her friends when she had less time to get out and help to care for Al. She was a skilled seamstress, dabbled in countless arts and crafts, quilted, knitted, decorated, and always had time to listen to and talk with friends from all walks of life.

Even after her diagnosis in December of last year, she lived life to the fullest, getting out every chance she had to help with church events, travel, and visit with friends.

Joanne entertaining friends at home

Joanne’s steadfast faith gave her comfort and strength to carry her on. She had no regrets, except for more time to do everything she wanted to do.

Everyone will remember Joanne’s booming smile, loving hugs, and thoughtfulness. To know Joanne is to love her back as much as she loved everyone she encountered while she was with us.

Joanne’s 85th birthday.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband Al, her parents, and her older brother Don. She is survived by her twin brother Jerry, her four children, Alfred David of Okinawa, Japan, Anne Lucille (Neal) Jennings of Chesapeake, Virginia, Andrea Katherine “Katie” (Eric) Phipps of New Bern, North Carolina, and Allison Ulvog (Scott) Leverick of Haddonfield, New Jersey and her dearly-loved grandchildren, Grace Jennings (Patrick) Hamm, Daniel (Saria) Leverick, Caroline Jennings, Lucas Leverick, Christina Ulvog, Jackson Jennings, Krister Ulvog, Alek Phipps, Annabelle Jennings, Abigail Leverick, and Emma Phipps, and great-grandchild Daniel Prescott Leverick III, many nieces, nephews, and other members of both the Johnson and Ulvog extended families, and many, many loving friends.

Joanne at dinner. Friends and family will remember Joanne’s wonderful smile.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Pamlico County, Inc., P.O. Box 6, Bayboro, NC 28515.

A service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Oriental, NC on September 9 at 2p, and a vigil for “Truth & Tall Tales” to be held the evening prior, starting at 7p in the church’s Parish Hall. The interment will be at a later date.

Posted Monday September 7, 2026 by Allison DeWeese