Joanne Kohn (nee Jacobs), longtime leader in the St. Louis arts community, died on April 14, 2025, at age 91.

Mrs. Kohn grew up in Omaha and attended Central High School, where she was voted “Miss Central,” and met President Truman at the White House when she was elected to represent Nebraska for Girls Nation.

She attended Washington University in St. Louis where she met her husband, trial lawyer Alan C. Kohn, a law student at the time. They wed in 1954.

They lived in Germany while Mr. Kohn served in the Army, then moved to Washington, D.C., where Mrs. Kohn studied theatre at Catholic University while Mr. Kohn served as a clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Starting her work in the arts community in St. Louis in 1958, Mrs. Kohn served at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis since its inception, including as president of its corporate board.

She was a longtime member of the board of Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and also served in leadership roles for Dance St. Louis, The Sheldon, Grand Center, the Edison Theatre, and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Mrs. Kohn was appointed chairman of the Missouri Arts Council from 1985-89, where she championed arts education and testified before the U.S. Congress to promote funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

She was also the founding director of the Arts Management and Leadership MFA program at Webster University.

The Kohn family lived in University City until the mid-1970s, when they moved to a contemporary home they built in Ladue.

Mrs. Kohn’s interest in architecture later led to her work to save and restore the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, culminating with its opening to the public as a national historic landmark.

Predeceased by her husband in 2019, Mrs. Kohn is survived by three sons and their spouses, and by five grandchildren: Tom and Lisa (Ethan and Grace), Jim and Maria (Alejandro), and John and Angie (Kate and Ava).

A public memorial celebration will be held on Sun., May 25 at 2 pm at the Farrell Auditorium at the St. Louis Art Museum. Reception to follow for friends and family. Garage parking available.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, or The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

Friends are encouraged to record their remembrances of Joanne Kohn at bergermemorialchapel.com. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE