06 Feb Joan Margarette Kmetz Gettig

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and wife, Joan Margarette Kmetz Gettig, passed away peacefully at home on January 28, 2023. Joan was born on April 7, 1938, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the first of two daughters born to Margaret Smelko Kmetz and George Kmetz. She graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1956 and then worked at Mellon Bank.

In 1960 she married a handsome U.S. Army soldier, Charles E. Gettig, Jr., of Pleasant Gap, Pa. This set her course as a career officer’s wife who raised a family and established many households from Heidelberg, Germany, to various posts across the U.S.

Joan and “Chuck” were married for 62 years and had three beloved daughters who continually benefited from her talent for making the smallest, most humble space feel cozy and inviting, culminating in the transformation of her Salt Lake City home into a haven that the entire family treasures.

Joan worked for several years at ZCMI Department Store in Salt Lake City and later enjoyed doing copy layout for a community newspaper in Herndon, VA. She had a green thumb, a capacity to enjoy simple pleasures and small beauties, a readiness to laugh at herself, a talent for engineering clever solutions to ordinary problems, an abiding love for her cats, and a life-long love of reading.

Most of all, she loved spending time and laughing with her grandchildren, who knew her as “Gam,” and “Gaga.” Matt remembers her surreptitiously putting money in his pocket; being a good listener; and being always curious and eager to hear about his life. Daniel remembers being spoiled by her during sleep-overs, late-night ice cream, and enjoying time without rules. Katie was cherished as the only granddaughter and remembers that Gaga was always ready for an adventure (including a spontaneous trip to Washington, D.C. to see a Paul Simon concert), was crafty and creative, and was a keen observer of people. Sam remembers how easy she was to talk to and what a good sense of humor she had. Joan is survived by her husband Charles and daughters, Jo Ann Gettig (Steve Kirkegaard), Linda Gettig (Ian Skurnik), and Vicki Gettig, as well as her four grandchildren, Matthew Kirkegaard (Clarisse Frissard), Daniel Kirkegaard, Katie Skurnik, and Sam Skurnik.

The family would like to thank Joan’s beloved physician, Margi Bhatt, for her tender and skilled care of Joan over many years; the excellent team at Canyon Hospice, especially Erika Negley, Jennie McCarthy, and Emily Buhler; and Beehive Senior Care, especially caregivers Pennina and Selita. A private family service will be held on February 10 at City View Mortuary.