Joan Finney

1925–2001 (age 76)

Governor of Kansas

Biography

Joan Finney (1925-2001) made history as the first woman elected governor of Kansas, serving from 1991 to 1995 and advocating for education, health care, and working families across the state. Prior to her governorship she served as Kansas treasurer, and throughout her public life she remained a champion for the underrepresented and a steady voice of conscience.

Joan brought warmth and plainspoken determination to every office she held, earning respect from supporters and challengers alike with her humility and clear priorities. Her legacy in Mount Calvary Cemetery reflects the lives she touched, both on the campaign trail and at kitchen tables where she listened with genuine care.

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