Joanna M.D.

After 103 magnificent years, Joanna Moser Rosenblad (known by many as Dr. Joan) passed away in Texas City on Friday, January 13, 2017. She was the youngest of the seven children born to Sam and Sula Moser in the small West Texas community of Lapan, near San Angelo, on January 31, 1913. She received her microbiology Bachelor's and Registered Nursing degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, and later an MD from Baylor College of Medicine.

Joanna and her future husband Lawrence Eric Rosenblad of Georgetown met each other when he was a graduate student teaching one of her courses at UT. They were married in June, 1939 in San Marcos. During WWII he attended UTMB Medical School in Galveston while also being enlisted in the Army. While working as a nurse, Joanna decided to go to medical school to better prepare herself to support their daughter Nancy in case something happened to Lawrence. She graduated from Houston's Baylor Medical School in 1947. Following the Texas City disaster in April 1947, as a new MD, Lawrence was one of the first doctors sent there to assist victims. During that experience he met Dr. Henry Schmidt, who encouraged him to practice in Texas City. Lawrence and Joanna moved to Texas City in the summer of 1949 with their daughters Nancy and Susan and opened the Texas City Clinic and later the Texas City Hospital. While living in Texas City, their sons Lawrence, Jr. and John were born. During much of the 1950's, Dr. Joan was the administrator of the Texas City Hospital, gave anesthetics for the surgeons there, and maintained her private practice in pediatrics.

Joanna was a long-time resident of Galveston County, where she practiced medicine for over 45 years. After leaving her private practice, for many years she was a pediatrician and also served as Medical Director at the Galveston County Health District until her retirement as she approached the age of 80. Joanna and Lawrence moved from Texas City to Dickinson in 1976. Lawrence passed away in 1994, shortly before their 55th anniversary. During her last years, Joanna was cared for with compassion and skill by her son John Rosenblad. His training in physical therapy helped make it possible for her to live as she wished in her own home until the end of her life.

Although remembered by generations as their beloved pediatrician, she is also remembered by her family as a totally loving and giving mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She was a highly skilled cook who frequently provided beautiful and cherished holiday meals for twenty or more family members. She was also a devout follower of the Methodist faith who long looked forward to meeting her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the loved ones who had departed before her, and the angels of heaven. She felt she had lived a full and blessed life.

Joanna was preceded in death by her parents, her six siblings, her husband Lawrence, and her son Lawrence, Jr. She is survived by her daughters Nancy (Marc) Bedford of Austin, and Susan (Jack) Parish of The Woodlands, daughter-in-law Gail Lynch Rosenblad of Cypress, and son John Rosenblad of Dickinson. Her granddaughters include Susan Bedford Moore (Andrew) of Pittsburgh, PA, Linda Bedford Arcuri (Brendan) of Carlisle, PA, Rachael Rosenblad Gaines (Todd) of Austin, Sharon Rosenblad Wilson (Jason) of Tomball, and Rhonda Parish of Santa Fe. Great-grandchildren include Ian Arcuri, Eric Moore, Brady and Lauren Wilson, Connor and Emily Gaines, and Dalton Parish.

Visitation will be held 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2017 and funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 19, 2017 both at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. After the funeral, graveside burial services will be at noon at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church of Texas City or a favorite charity.

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