JoAnn Jean Eberline, 84, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa. A celebration of JoAnn's life will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012, 11:00 A.M. at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 2nd from 4 to 7 P.M. at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. The burial will be held privately by the family.Memorials may be directed to the family.
JoAnn was born on May 6, 1927 in Wellsburg, Iowa; the daughter of Henry B. & Gesina (Rademaker) Engelkes. She graduated from Wellsburg High School and went on to earn her RN degree in Marshalltown, Iowa. JoAnn was very proud to be a nurse cadet at the end of World War II and worked as a registered nurse for over 40 years. On August 12, 1947, JoAnn was united in marriage to Virgil Engelkes at the Wellsburg Reformed Church. They welcomed twin sons into their family in 1954. They began their life together in Willmar, Minnesota then moved to Forest City, Iowa and in 1968, settled in Grundy Center where they made their home for the remainder of their lives.
JoAnn loved to golf, play Bridge, do crossword puzzles and participate in her grandchildren's lives. She was very active in Bethany Presbyterian Church in many different capacities. She was a longtime volunteer with the American Cancer Society, especially the "Reach for Recovery" program and the "Relay for Life". JoAnn enjoyed watching her sons and grandchildren participate in high school athletics and music events.
She is survived by her sons Paul (Jan) Eberline of Grundy Center and Mark (PJ) Eberline of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Joshua, Thomas, Leigha, Nathan, Andrew Eberline and Anne Summers; great-granddaughter Lydia Eberline; sister-in-law Orene Eberline. JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; husband Virgil and brother Bernard A. Engelkes.