Joanna Joy Kalbach - Stevenson Funeral Home

Joanna Joy Kalbach was born a daughter of
Steve and Jessica (Ellingson) Kalbach at Holy Rosary
Hospital in Miles City on October 19, 2012. Though
full term, she was very small weighing only 5 lbs. 9
ozs. Apart from that she was a beautiful, perfectly
formed little girl. Those who met her frequently
commented on her expressive, big, brown eyes. When
she looked at you, she just had a way of wrapping
herself around your heart. Everyone who had a chance
to meet this little girl instantly fell in love with her.
After ten days at home with her family, she stopped
breathing one night. This started a pain filled 3 weeks
for her and her family. She went from the ER in
Miles City by helicopter to St. Vincent’s Hospital in
Billings MT. There they found out that she had been
born with a hole in her heart (VSD). She was then
air transported to Providence Children’s Hospital
in Spokane, WA. After battling through a virus, a
staff infection, and a strep infection, she was finally
scheduled for heart surgery on November 19. 3 days
before the surgery her genetic tests came back. She
was diagnosed with Trisomony 18Q. This was the root
cause of her heart condition and her small size, and her
parents were told that she really had very little chance
of surviving the surgery, or living a normal life. She
was disconnected from life support and even though
she was not expected to last 24 hrs, she lived for 5
days. Her parents were able to bring her back home to
Montana, where they and her sister Susanna were able
to love her and treasure each additional moment with
her. She passed peacefully at home November 22nd
with her family holding her close. Though she had a
very short and pain filled life, this special little girl
touched people's hearts literally around the world. Her
family is so thankful that God blessed them with her
and allowed them to be a part of her short time on earth.
Joanna is survived by her parents, Steve and Jessica
Kalbach, Baker MT; her sister, Susanna Rose (age
2), of the family home; her maternal grandparents,
Ed and Yvonne Ellingson, Cumberland, WI; her
paternal grandmother, Carol Kalbach, Baker, MT;
and her great-grandparents, Bob and Ilene Ostenson,
Spooner, WI and Ed and Carolyn Ellingson,
Pensacola, FL; and numerous aunts, uncles and
cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather,
Dick Kalbach and her great-grandparents, Kenneth
and Christine Gains and Wilford and Ruth Kalbach.

Forever With Jesus
It's hard to know just why God chose
To take our little daughter home,
Just why he opened wide his arms
And whispered gently to her, "Come".
It's hard to know why He would give
To us a little girl so fair,
To cheer our lives so short a while,
Then take her from our loving care.
It seems we have a thousand "Whys?"
It seems so hard to understand,
But this we know, that God in love
Had every little detail planned.
He knew how special she would be
To everyone while she was here,
Her life was short, and yet she touched
So many lives both far and near.
Although our hearts are filled with grief,
And sadness that she had to go,
We have the comfort only God
Can give to us, and this we know:
That she is now in Jesus' arms
Forever safe within His care,
And when we come to Heaven we'll find
Our little angel waiting there.
Joanna Joy Kalbach
FUNERAL MASS:
Sunday, November 25, 2012, 2:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church
Baker, Montana
CELEBRATING:
Pastor Levi Durfey
SPECIAL MUSIC
Phil & Laura Kalback & Family
PALLBEARER
Ed Ellingson
INTERMENT
Bonnievale Cemetery
Baker, Montana
ARRANGEMENTS
Stevenson Funeral Home
Baker, Montana