JoAnne Rosetta Grow, daughter of Joseph George Miller and Pearl Cecilia Kelting Miller, was born March 20, 1931, in Grand Junction, Iowa, and died Feb. 2, 2017, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Ga. JoAnne was 85 years, 10 months and 12 days old.
Mass of Christian burial was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction. The celebrant was the Rev. Jeff Schliesman. Lectors were Mark Paul Simons and Mark Miller. Chuck Schott was the cantor.
JoAnne’s honorary bearers were Kevin Grow, Brian Grow (deceased), Dale Miller, Gayland Miller, Ralph Miller, Janice Bice, Eric Elston, Andrew Elston, Nicole Ahrens, Roy Sellers, Jeffrey Alex, Jason Alex, Kyle White, Gina White and Phil Lansing. Her casket bearers were Doug Kinney, Mark Miller, Steve Alex, Mark Paul Simons, Aaron Kinney and Bridgette Scott. Burial was in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Grand Junction.
Lunch was served by the St. Brigid Catholic Church ladies at the parish hall.
JoAnne attended St. Brigid Catholic Parochial School in Grand Junction and graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1948.
JoAnne met Donald Grow at a dance held at the American Legion Hall in Grand Junction on Valentine’s Day. They were married April 28, 1956, at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction. The two had a deep and abiding love all of their married lives.
JoAnne was a hard worker, tirelessly caring for Don and their six children. She not only was a busy homemaker, but she assisted Don at their auction house in town.
JoAnne was known for her wonderful beef burgers, which she sold at her lunch stand during the auctions.
Her family remembers her humble, generous presence, always being the caregiver.
JoAnne had a deep love of God and abiding faith in her church. Her adoration of the Holy Mother was a deep part of her life, and therefore the Rosary was very important to her.
JoAnne passed these wonderful traits on to her children. JoAnne and Don expressed their devotion to each other, never hesitating to demonstrate their love as a couple to each other and to their children.
They found so much strength from their church and faith life. The family was very active at St. Brigid Church and later as member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Moultrie.
JoAnne and Don loved to dance, especially enjoying square dancing. They also bowled in a league. She collected tea pots and music boxes and liked to garden and cook.
JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents; her precious son, Brian, in 2012; husband, Don, in 2013; her two brothers, Jerry Miller, and his wife, Judy, and Kenneth Miller; and brothers-in-law, Larry Bice and Gerald Brown.
She will always be in the hearts of her surviving family, daughters, Kathy Alex and husband, Steve, of Ottumwa, Becky Kinney and husband, Doug, of Waukee, Deb Miller and husband, Mark, of Perry and Denise Elston (Roy Sellers) of Moultrie, Ga.; son, Kevin Grow of Perry; brothers, Dale Miller and wife, Barbara, of Yale, Gayland Miller and wife, Nancy, of Ames; Ralph Miller and wife, Jana, of Grand Junction; sister, Janice Bice of Perry; sisters-in-law, Doris Brown of Rippey and Cleo Ison and husband, Don, of Venice, Fla.
JoAnne is also survived by her dear grandchildren, Jeffrey Alex, Jason Alex, Gina Reed, Aaron Kinney, Kylie White, Bridget Scott, Mark Paul Simons, Nichole Ahrens, Eric Elston and Andrew Elston; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; other relatives; and many friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, BP.O. ox 204, 1417 Second St., Perry, IA 50220.
