JOANNE COWELL
Funeral services for
Joanne Cowell, 79, of Storm Lake, will be Wednesday, January 26, 2011,
at 1:00 P.M., at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, with Pastor
Paula Cripps-Vallejo officiating. Burial will be in the Storm Lake
Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the
Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia, and for one hour prior to the service at
the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Storm
Lake Public Library.
Betty Joanne
Welsh was born March 29, 1931 in Monona, Iowa, the daughter of Vivien
Joseph and Mary Evelyn (Siglin) Welsh. She never used the name Betty but
was known as Joanne to everyone, and as Jo to those closest to her. She
was raised by her grandparents, Fred and Maude Siglin. She went all
through school in Monona where she was in many activities, especially
girl’s basketball where she played in the state tournaments all four
years. She graduated from M-F-L High School in 1949. She worked in
Wirkler’s Dry Goods store in Monona as a sales clerk and bookkeeper. On
November 2, 1952 Jo married George William Cowell at the E.U.B. Church
in Monona. Thirteen months after they were married George entered the
Army. While he was stationed at Monterey, CA, she joined him there for
several months. When he went overseas she returned to Monona. After his
discharge they farmed north of Monona with his parents, then at Oelwein,
IA, and Neillsville, WI, before returning to the family farm. They lived
in Cedar Rapids until 1987 when they moved to Storm Lake. While in Cedar
Rapids Jo attended Young’s School of Beauty, where she then worked as an
instructor. Being an only child, family was everything to her. She
opened her home to many of her kid’s friends who also called her Mom. In
1976 Jo was adopted by her stepfather of 32 years, Howard Clawson. In
Storm Lake George was the custodian at the United Methodist church, and
during the last several years there Jo also shared the job.
Jo was an
avid reader her entire lifetime. She crocheted many things for church
bazaars and as gifts, as well as doing other types of handwork. Jo was
always ready for a board game or a game of cards, where her true
competitive nature shined. She also enjoyed puzzles. Jo was a fantastic
cook and baker, whether the group was small or large no one ever left
her home hungry. She enjoyed spending time with George, her kids,
grandkids, and her dear friends. Jo died at St. Luke’s Regional Medical
Center in Sioux City, IA, on Saturday, January 22, 2011, after a short
battle with liver cancer.
Preceding Jo
in death were her grandparents, her parents, her adopted father, two
step-mothers, Marge Clawson and Barbara Clawson, one stillborn premature
grandchild, and two brothers-in-law, Duane and Bruce Cowell.
Survivors
include her husband George of Storm Lake, one daughter, Pat and her
husband Roger Redig of Aurelia, and one son, Tom and his partner Daina
Markussen of Remsen. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Rachel and
husband Simon Williams, Roman Redig, Leah Cowell and fiancé Alex Newman,
Simon Cowell, Thomas Cowell, Anna Cowell, and Lakota Cowell, two
sisters-in-law, Marcella and husband Kenneth Wendel of Postville, IA,
and Carol and husband Dan Schroeder of LaCrosse, WI, and other
relatives, friends and neighbors.
