Joan Susan Koestline

Levin, Joan S. Age 51, of Dallas, Texas passed away on March 27, 2009 after a long and very brave battle with Leukemia. Joan had devoted her entire life to the betterment of people's lives, to the welfare of animals, to the love of music and to the great outdoors. She was born on April 30, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest child of Conrad and Fern Levin (Boulder, CO.), and sister to Daniel Levin (Las Vegas, NV). Joan is also survived by her husband Jack Koestline and her number one most adored son Adam Koestline, who is attending the University of North Texas. Joan grew up in Wilmette, Illinois and attended New Trier High School. Shortly after graduating she met her husband Jack Koestline while on vacation in Europe, and they were married in 1979. Joan received a B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of Minnesota, in 1979. And a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1983. As a clinical social worker and a family therapist Joan touched the lives of many people in a very positive way. Joan counseled people while working for the Minneapolis Rape Crisis Center, Timberlawn Hospital Dallas, Jewish Family Services Dallas, CPC Millwood Hospital Arlington, Willowpark Hospital Arlington, Doctor's Hospital Dallas, Galaxy Center for Community Counseling Garland, Pro Behavioral Health Denver, Catholic Charities Denver, First Mental Health Anchorage, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Magellan Behavioral Health Anchorage. In addition to helping people Joan had a lifelong commitment to helping animals. Starting in high school she worked with the World Wildlife Fund and throughout her life and up until her death she volunteered and contributed to animal causes. Joan was an avid reader and a member of book clubs in Anchorage and Dallas and a volunteer at the Richardson library. Joan also loved music and she shared her love as a volunteer DJ for her weekly public radio shows in Dallas, Boulder CO, and Anchorage, AK. Most of all Joan loved the great outdoors. Joan's happiest memories were of her many outdoor adventures, backpacking across Europe, canoeing the rain drenched Boundary Waters of Minnesota on her honeymoon, hiking and staring down a bear in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana, horse packing thru a blizzard in the Wind River Range of Wyoming, mountain climbing in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, house boating on placid Lake Powell, sea kayaking with the otters in Kamishak Bay, whale watching on Prince William Sound, ice skating on Westchester Lagoon, rollerblading on the Coastal Trail, mountain biking at Lake Eklutna, and cross country skiing through the beautiful woods and mountains of her beloved Alaska. Joan was a wonderful person, a one of a kind and she will be missed greatly by her many friends and loved ones. A memorial service will be held this Sunday April 5th at 11:AM at Paradigm/ Dallas Jewish Funerals 1611 North Central Expressway Plano, TX 972-424-1144 Published in Dallas Morning News on Apr. 2, 2009

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