Joan R. Rourke

BECK, DELAGARDELLE, ROURKE, SCHAEFER, SCHARES, VSETECKA, ZANGERLE

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 5/10/2024 at 11:23:15

Joan R. Rourke, 95 of Fairbank, IA, died on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, IA.

Joan was born on April 12, 1929, in Gilbertville, IA, the daughter of Victor T. and Stella K. (Schares) Schaefer. She attended the Immaculate Conception (Now Don Bosco) Catholic School in Gilbertville, IA. In 1947, Joan graduated from high school and moved to Waterloo, IA. She soon started working in the billing department at the Rath Packing Company in Waterloo.

Joan enjoyed going out dancing with friends, and one night met Patrick O. Rourke at the Electric Park Ballroom. They were married on September 27, 1954, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Gilbertville, IA. Together they made their home on a farm just outside of Fairbank, IA. In 1956, Joan stopped working at Rath Packing to raise her children.

She and Patrick raised their four children on the farm and loved watching their family grow throughout the years. She loved taking care of her family and looking after her grandchildren. She often hosted holiday parties at her house and enjoyed the countless hours of cooking for the family. She made sure to teach her grandchildren her recipes and how to cook.

Joan was a woman of strong faith and principles. She valued her relationships with not just her family, but also her neighbors and friends. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank, IA. For over ten years she volunteered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, IA making quilts for the needy, and also with Cedar Valley Hospice in Independence, IA.

She is survived by her children; Larry (Jill) Rourke, Dunkerton, IA, Tom (Kim) Rourke, Fairbank, IA, Julie (Bill) Delagardelle, Dunkerton, IA, and Jane (Eric) Zangerle, Swisher, IA, ten grandchildren: Kayla (Tyler Scribner) Rourke, Emily (Jacob) Vsetecka, Andrew (Cassie) Rourke, Kelly (Thomas Sadler) Rourke, Troy Rourke, Jenna (Neal) Beck, Phillip (Morgan)Delagardelle, Jacey Zangerle, and Ted Zangerle, nine great-grandchildren: Jaycee, Max, Mackenzie, Caroline, Henry, Jensen, Louis, Jayden, Brooks, a sister, Cleola (Kitty) Robb, Raymond, IA, a brother, Thomas (Carol) Schaefer, Gilbertville, IA, a sister-in-law, Marilyn Schaefer, Gilbertville, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Stella Schaefer, her husband, Patrick Rourke, a granddaughter, Dyana Rourke, a sister, Lois Schares, and a brother, Roman Schaefer

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3 PM on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank, IA. Inurnment will be held at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Fairbank. A Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Hall in Fairbank after the services on Thursday. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 PM.