Joann Welch

Joann E. Welch, 84, of Waukon, IA, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, October 30th, at 2:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM Monday at the church, where there will be a 9:30 AM rosary led by Fr. Mark Osterhaus. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the St. Patrick's School in Waukon or to the REACH suicide prevention organization (c/o NEI Behavioral Health Center, PO Box 349, Decorah, IA 52101).

Joann "Josie" Elizabeth Welch was born March 23, 1933, in Postville, IA, the daughter of Louis and Gertrude (Harris) Hangartner. She was baptized and confirmed at Postville Presbyterian Church and attended Postville High School. After her schooling, she helped her parents operate the Volney cheese factory. On August 8, 1953, Joann married Ralph Gordon Welch at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon, IA. They were blessed with "five beautiful daughters and two lovely sons": Cindy (Ron) McDowell, Sherry Welch, Chris (Steve) Weymiller, Terry (Laurie) Welch, Jill (Jim) Kiesau, Jackie Welch (deceased), and Kim (Amy) Welch.

Joann helped on the family farm and was a homemaker, which came with many responsibilities such as being: an economist, a nurse, and therapist. She was a very nurturing mother not only to her own children, but to her siblings as well. Her kids would get to enjoy the smell of fresh homemade bread when they arrived home from school; she baked hundreds of fresh chocolate chip cookies, pies, and Christmas cookies for her family and friends. Her family would always enjoy a four course home cooked meal together at supper time. Joann enjoyed having company at her home and always insisted on feeding them. She also enjoyed gardening and would can all her garden produce for the winter months.

The backbone of Ralph's business success, she also helped out with his business's bookwork. Joann worked at the B&B Clothing Store and Howard's Home Furnishings in Waukon. She was also the Waukon Welcome Hostess for several years. She was a very active member of the ladies' organization at St. Mary's Catholic Church in rural Waukon and Al-Anon.

She loved playing cards, dancing, and being part of the antique car club. Joann enjoyed following her children's and grandchildren's sports activities, but her greatest passion was spending time with her family. If you knew her, you loved her. She did not have one selfish bone in her body and was always looking out for someone else's needs.

When her kids were young, Joann always wore a mustard seed necklace. Like the mustard seed, though it is less than all seeds that are on earth, which when sown and grows up becomes greater than all the herbs, and develops into a tree that puts out great branches so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow. Joann was like that large tree; she spread her branches so all of her family and friends could lodge under her shadow of love.

She made her kids laugh and cry, wiped their tears, hugged them tight, watched them succeed, saw them fall, cheered them on, kept them going strong, and drove them crazy. Moms are a promise from God that you will have a friend forever!

Joann is survived by six children; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; her stepmother Grace Bluck of Preston, MN; one brother Greg Hangartner of Wauwatosa, WI; one sister Sandy (Dale) Echard of Monona, IA; three sisters-in-law: Lorraine Adam of Waukon, Leona Welsh of La Crosse, WI, and Sandra Hangartner of Waterloo, IA; one brother-in-law: Duane Scheffert of Monona, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph on March 28, 2017; her parents; her stepfather; her daughter Jackie; grandson Jamie Ryan; infant twin grandsons (sons of Jill and Jim Kiesau); two sisters: Joyce (Don) Mork and Judy Scheffert; two brothers: Jerry and Jack (Merle) Hangartner; and five brothers-in-law: James, Ambrose (Phyllis), and Clem Welch, Robert Welsh, and Leonard Adam.

Honorary casketbearers are Joann's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dr. David Schwartz, Jane Mahoney, Janet Snitker, Mary Fahey, Maureen Mahoney, Lois Adam, Don Gavin, Gary Whittle, Peg Mathis, Jan May, Mary Axmear, and Mike A'Hearn. Casketbearers are Eric Weymiller, Cole, Isaiah, and Creed Welch, Austin Lockington, Jason Echard, and Scott and Todd Mork.