LARSON, Joanne Arlene (Iverson) 1946-2025

IVERSON, BUDAHL, LARSON, MCCRACKEN, SCHULTZ, FELKEY, ABRAMS, HARDIN, SCHWARTZ, FITCHETT, MIHM, BEHEL, MATTHEWS, SPENCER, TANGUAY, MORSE, BLACKFORD, KNOPF

Posted By: Connie L. Ellis (email)
Date: 11/2/2025 at 21:25:53

SOURCE: Obituary Martin-Grau Funeral Home & cremation
Contributor: School friend at Waterville Consolidated school (Not related)

Joanne Arlene Larson, age 78, of Harpers Ferry, Iowa died Monday January 6, 2025 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were held at the Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, Iowa and burial was in the Waterville Cemetery in Waterville,Iowa.

Joanne was born April 22, 1946 in Waterville, Iowa, the daughter of Irvin O. and Helen M.(Budahl) Iverson, Sr. She was baptized and confirmed at the Old West Paint Creek Church in rural Waukon, Iowa. She attended the Waterville Consolidated School and helped on the family farm.

On October 7, 1961 Joanne married Lawrence Ingvald
Larson at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa.

With her strong faith, Joanne was an active member of the Old East Paint Creek Church. She belonged to the Naomi Circle and taught Bible School. She was very artistic and enjoyed drawing, ceramics, quilting, and crocheting.

She treasured spending time with her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She had a great capacity for forgiveness and compassion. She created a safe and loving home for everyone. She kept a large garden for canning and was an amazing cook, from her best potato salad to her pancakes to a ton of lefse. She made many cakes for all occasions including weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations. After her children were grown Joanne worked a variety of jobs at Monona Wire, Kol Gol, and was a CNA at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. In the early 1990's she operated Jo's Craft and Country Store
in Rossville, Iowa. In 2002, she and Lawrence moved to Harpers Ferry where she resided until moving to Nevada, Iowa in 2023. Joanne treasured spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren and loved watching the hummingbirds flit around freely. Her love of nature is part of her legacy to her family.

Joanne Larson is survived by her 4 children: Laurie (Carrol) McCracken of Nevada, Iowa, Lisa (Al) Schultz of Fairbanks, Alaska, Lynn (Tom) Felkey of State Center, Iowa, and Pam Larson of Decorah, Iowa; 12 grandchildren: Larry Abrams, Jimmy Larson, Yvette Hardin, Kacey, Lukas, and Lars Larson, Sean McCracken, Jennifer Schwartz, Heidi Schultz, Logan Fitchett, Matthew Larson, and Page Mihm; 19 gt.grandchildren: Ayden, Avery, and Austin Abrams, Madden Behel, Kylar and Linley Larson, Kaleb Matthews, Brylee Hardin, Scarlet and Rylee Larson, Keirra, Jace, and Trinity Spencer, Blake Schultz, Oaklyn Fitchett, Myah and Hayden Larson, Harbor and baby on the way Mihm; 3 sisters: Shirley Tanguay of Summerville South Carolina, Carol Morse of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Sally Blackford of Blue Mound, Wisconsin; 1 brother Ronnie Knopf of Pleasant Plains, Arkansas.

Joann was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband Lawrence in 2020; son Larry J. Larson, granddaughter Heather Spencer, and her brother Irvin "Sonny" Iverson.