Joanne Margaret (Nisbet) Amrine

Joanne Margaret (Nisbet) Amrine

July 10, 1933 – September 4, 2025

Joanne Margaret (Nisbet) Amrine passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on September 4, 2025 in Centralia, Washington.

Joanne was born July 10, 1933, to John and Vera (Baker) Nisbet in Chehalis, Washington. She grew up on her grandparent’s farm at Claquato and loved visiting her mother’s family in Napavine. Her family moved to Vanport during WWII where both her parents worked in the shipyards.

School spirit herself, Joanne graduated from Chehalis Senior High School in 1951. She participated in student leadership, the honor society, tennis, chorus, theater, the Crimson & Gray, and the Chehalin. Fiercely independent, like her often-quoted Little Red Hen, when Joanne wanted to do something herself, she did!

Joanne met Herb Amrine while working at Chehalis Music and they married in 1955. They were married for fifty-six years and lived their entire married life in the same house where they raised their two children, Lee and Scott.

Joanne worked at Sears, Peoples, Smith’s Pharmacy, and then the Chehalis School District, at first in the ASB office and then in Payroll. She spent many years as the Director of Payroll, and loved working with teachers, staff, and administrators.

In retirement, Joanne enjoyed adventures with her travel group, attending concerts, live performances, and sporting events, and helping out at Giske Image Design. She took care of her husband, Herb, until his death in 2011. Joanne remained in their family home, keeping up her flowers and garden, hosting family gatherings, and taking great joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always giving them a place to come home to. She lived independently at Woodland Village until late this summer.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Herb, and sister, Gloria Fairley. She is survived by her daughter, Lee (Stan) Giske, Chehalis, and son, Scott (Cheryl) Amrine, Chehalis; grandchildren, Jolynn Amrine, Jordan (Hanna) Giske, Taylor Giske, Kate Amrine, and Luke Amrine; great-grandchildren, Theodore, Eleanor, and Harper; brother Tom Nisbet, Ellensburg; as well as many well-loved nieces and nephews.

Herb and Joanne will be buried together at Claquato. We will be celebrating Joanne’s life on Saturday, November 1st from 1:00 to 4:00 at Lee and Stan’s home in Chehalis, Washington.

To honor Joanne’s love of the Bearcats and family tennis legacy, please consider making a donation to the Lewis County Tennis Association Tennis and Wrestling Facility. Please make checks payable to the Chehalis School District for the tennis facility and send to 310 SW 16th Street, Chehalis, WA 98532.

Arrangements are under the direction of Funeral Alternatives of Washington, Centralia.