Joanne M. Graeve
March 2, 1934 — February 27, 2013
Joanne Martina Graeve was born on March 2, 1934, to Philip and Barbara (Wettengel) Shields in Dunlap, Iowa. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Dunlap and graduated with the Class of 1952.
She worked for a phone company in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting Leo Graeve. They were united in marriage on May 23, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap and became parents to eight children: LuAnn, Bernie, Pat, Larry, Jeff, Brian, Sam, and Chad.
After their marriage, they lived briefly in Earling before spending eighteen months in Wichita, Kansas. They moved back to the Earling area and settled there. Joanne raised her children and worked part-time until they all got through school. She most recently worked in the Laundry Department at Little Flower Haven.
She enjoyed being a homemaker and traveling with Leo during her retirement. She especially liked going on the annual trips to Okoboji and traveling wherever her kids were.
Joanne was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Katherine, #266 of Earling.
After Leo’s death in January of 2011, Joanne became a resident of Little Flower Haven Nursing Home in Earling. She died on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leo, and her sister Genevieve Moore.
She is survived by her children: LuAnn Brown of Castle Rock, Colorado, Bernie Graeve of Memphis, Tennessee, Pat Graeve and his wife Loretta of Terrebonne, Oregon, Larry Graeve and his wife Kathy, Jeff Graeve and his wife Jeanie and Brian Graeve and his wife Annette all of Ankeny, Iowa, Sam Graeve and his wife Kathy of Audubon, Iowa, and Chad Graeve and his wife Kimberly of Earling, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sisters Loretta Voss of Yankton, South Dakota, Phyllis and her husband Darrell Hansen of Woodbine, Iowa, Charlotte Assman of Earling, Iowa, Barb Stracke of Harlan, Iowa, and Mary and her husband Ray Wilwerding of Earling, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial was held by Rev. Chris Fontanini 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Interment was held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with Holly Brazell, Tom Graeve, Jackson Graeve, Trisha Brown, Alayna Graeve, Lauren Graeve, Ross Brown, Aaryn Graeve, David Graeve, Katie Graeve, Heather Graeve, Kari Graeve serving as honorary casket bearers and Taylor Brown, Jessica Graeve, Jake Graeve, Mark Graeve, Alex Graeve, Madison Graeve, and Rachel Graeve serving as active casket bearers.
PDF Printable Version
She worked for a phone company in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting Leo Graeve. They were united in marriage on May 23, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap and became parents to eight children: LuAnn, Bernie, Pat, Larry, Jeff, Brian, Sam, and Chad.
After their marriage, they lived briefly in Earling before spending eighteen months in Wichita, Kansas. They moved back to the Earling area and settled there. Joanne raised her children and worked part-time until they all got through school. She most recently worked in the Laundry Department at Little Flower Haven.
She enjoyed being a homemaker and traveling with Leo during her retirement. She especially liked going on the annual trips to Okoboji and traveling wherever her kids were.
Joanne was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Katherine, #266 of Earling.
After Leo’s death in January of 2011, Joanne became a resident of Little Flower Haven Nursing Home in Earling. She died on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leo, and her sister Genevieve Moore.
She is survived by her children: LuAnn Brown of Castle Rock, Colorado, Bernie Graeve of Memphis, Tennessee, Pat Graeve and his wife Loretta of Terrebonne, Oregon, Larry Graeve and his wife Kathy, Jeff Graeve and his wife Jeanie and Brian Graeve and his wife Annette all of Ankeny, Iowa, Sam Graeve and his wife Kathy of Audubon, Iowa, and Chad Graeve and his wife Kimberly of Earling, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sisters Loretta Voss of Yankton, South Dakota, Phyllis and her husband Darrell Hansen of Woodbine, Iowa, Charlotte Assman of Earling, Iowa, Barb Stracke of Harlan, Iowa, and Mary and her husband Ray Wilwerding of Earling, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial was held by Rev. Chris Fontanini 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Interment was held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with Holly Brazell, Tom Graeve, Jackson Graeve, Trisha Brown, Alayna Graeve, Lauren Graeve, Ross Brown, Aaryn Graeve, David Graeve, Katie Graeve, Heather Graeve, Kari Graeve serving as honorary casket bearers and Taylor Brown, Jessica Graeve, Jake Graeve, Mark Graeve, Alex Graeve, Madison Graeve, and Rachel Graeve serving as active casket bearers.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joanne M. Graeve, please visit our flower store.