JoAnn Doramus-Alsager

A Celebration of JoAnn’s Life will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the Nampa Church of the Brethren, 11030 West Orchard Avenue, Nampa, ID 83651. A luncheon will follow immediately after the celebration. Please join us to celebrate and honor a life well lived. JoAnn loved purple and lavender, and the family invites you to wear them in her honor at her Celebration of Life.

Marilyn “JoAnn” Doramus-Alsager, 92, passed away on September 20, 2026, in Meridian Idaho.

JoAnn was born around 7:00 AM on a rainy morning on September 17, 1934, in Gillmore City, Iowa, to Arch and Amby Bigelow. The moment she was born, the clouds broke and the sun was out the rest of the day.

Growing up with her older sister and brother, the family moved from Iowa to Jordan Valley, Oregon, where her father farmed. They later moved to Fruitland and Payette, and then to Yuba City, California, where she graduated from high school. In Yuba City, she married James Fiecoat, and when his work took them to Aptos, California, she settled into life near the coast raising her children, Randall and Michelle.

JoAnn and James divorced and she returned to Idaho in 1966 and raised her family on farms in New Plymouth, and later Middleton. She grew gardens that were big enough to feed all the neighbors and canned everything she could. She actively worked on the farm and was a master at setting irrigation siphon tubes. She raised calves, had horses, dogs, and cats. She enjoyed raising her children on a farm.

In 1975, she began working for Canyon County, where she retired as Welfare Director in 1992. During her tenure, she was instrumental in giving life to the “Share Our Surplus Program”, providing assistance to needy families. JoAnn oversaw the program and received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.

In 1978, she married Donald Doramus. Their life together was full of adventure and service. After JoAnn retired from the County, she and Donald volunteered extensively with Youth With A Mission, which took them to several countries as well as Nevada and Hawaii, where they spent ten winters and made lifelong friends. They loved time with family, especially trips to the cabin, attending their grandchildren's school events, and taking the grandkids to church and church camp. Donald passed away in 2008, after thirty years together.

JoAnn married Melvin Alsager in 2012. Together they enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, and watching football and basketball, especially the Broncos, Vandals, and Gonzaga teams. Melvin passed away in 2017.

JoAnn will be remembered for her many talents and gifts. She was a master card player, a superb bowler, and outstanding athlete. She loved her family and friends and would not hesitate to drop what she was doing to help them. She will be remembered by her children and grandchildren for her holiday parties, and her ability to make everyone feel special. She was first in line at every event, and when someone needed to "go see the manager," she was the elected representative. JoAnn never missed a beat, and if life threw her lemons, she made lemonade. She may have been born on a rainy morning, but the sun came out, just as it always does, and that is her story.

She is survived by her brother Robert Bigelow, daughter Michelle (Zoran) Yankovich, son, Randall (Cathy) Holloway, Stepsons: Tony (Kathy) Doramus, Tim (Lorraine) Doramus, Tom (Carole) Doramus, Richard (Debi) Alsager, and Jim (Karen) Alsager; Stepdaughters: Sandy (Doug) Thayne, Trudy (Steve) Dewey, Julie (Ed) Helms, and Mary Beth (Doug) Badger. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren who thought the sun rose and set on their Grandma/Granny/Grammy.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Arch and Amby Bigelow, her sister Barbara Bennett, her husband’s Donald Doramus and Melvin Alsager, sister in-law Kay Bigelow, brother-in-law Ralph Bennett, stepson Ted Doramus, granddaughter Amy Doramus, and great- granddaughter, Shelby Liszak.

JoAnn was a long-time member of the Nampa Church of the Brethren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nampa Church of the Brethren, 11030 West Orchard Avenue, Nampa, ID 83651, or a charity of your choice.