Cowell, Joanne (1931-2011)
COWELL, WELSH, SIGLIN, CLAWSON, REDIG, WILLIAMS, NEWMAN, WENDEL, SCHROEDER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/29/2011 at 15:54:09
Joanne Cowell
March 29, 1931 - January 22, 2011Thursday, January 27, 2011
Joanne Cowell, 79, of Storm Lake, died at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday, January 22, 2011, after a short battle with liver cancer.
Betty Joanne Welsh was born March 29, 1931, in Monona, the daughter of Vivien Joseph and Mary Evelyn (Siglin) Welsh. She never used the name Betty but was known as Joanne to most people and as Jo to those closest to her.
She was raised by her grandparents, Fred and Maude Siglin. While attending school in Monona, she participated in many activities, especially girl's basketball, even playing 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 Nov. 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, California, she joined him there for several months. When he went overseas, she returned to Monona.
After his discharge, they farmed first north of Monona with his parents, then at Oelwein and Neillsville, Wisconsin, 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 subsequently worked as an instructor.
In Storm Lake, George worked as the custodian at the United Methodist church, and during his last several years there, Jo also shared the job.
Jo was an avid reader her entire lifetime. As well as doing other types of handwork, she crocheted many items for church bazaars and as gifts. Jo was always ready for a board game or a game of cards where her true competitive nature shone through. She also enjoyed puzzles. Jo was a fantastic cook and baker. Whether she was entertaining a small or a large group, no one ever left her home hungry.
As an only child, she valued her family above all else. She enjoyed spending time with George, her kids, grandkids, and her dear friends. She even opened her home to many of her kid's friends who also called her Mom. In 1976, Jo was adopted by Howard Clawson, her step-father of thirty-two years.
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 her husband, Simon Williams, Roman Redig, Leah Cowell, and her fiancé, Alex Newman, Simon Cowell, Thomas Cowell, Anna Cowell, and Lakota Cowell; two sisters-in-law, Marcella, and her husband, Kenneth Wendel, of Postville, and Carol, and her husband, Dan Schroeder, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and other relatives, friends and neighbors.
Funeral services for Joanne Cowell will be Wednesday, Jan. 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 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.
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