Joan L. (Dempewolf) Hayes

DEMPEWOLF, HAYES, LEIFEIT, JORGENSON, PETERS, NEFF, FELDERMAN, NEMMERS, AVERY

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/27/2011 at 22:33:34

Behr Funeral Home Obituary, Dubuque, Iowa online

Joan L. Hayes, 74, of 8878 Rt. 52 South, died peacefully at home Saturday, April 11, 2009, surrounded by her family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, at St. Catherine Catholic Church, with the Rev. Scott Bullock officiating. Burial will be in St. Catherine Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the church, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:45 p.m. The Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.

Joan was born on April 29, 1934, in Bellevue, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Meta (Leifeit) Dempewolf.

She married Virgil Hayes on Nov. 28, 1953, in Bellevue. He preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 1995.

Joan was a member of St. Catherine Parish, the church's Rosary Society and the Catholic Order of Foresters. She was most happy when her home was filled with the chatter and laughter of her large family. In her spare time, she enjoyed watching "Grandpa's birds," baking cookies and other goodies with her grandchildren, playing bingo, watching "Wheel of Fortune" and Iowa Hawkeye basketball, crocheting and surrounding herself with family and friends.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary K. (Greg) Jorgenson, of Dubuque; four sons, Pat (Debbie) Hayes, Paul (Julie) Hayes, Mark Hayes and Dan (Erin) Hayes, all of Dubuque; 17 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Pauline Peters, of Anchorage, Alaska; Helen (Sam) Neff, of Washington, Iowa; Clara Felderman, of Long Grove, Iowa; and Kay Nemmers, of LaMotte, Iowa; one brother, Phil (Sandy) Dempewolf, of Bonita, Calif.; and two sister-in-laws, Olie Avery, of Dubuque; and Nell Dempewolf, of Rockville, Md.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, Joe; a daughter, Jean; and four brothers, Frank "Bud," Don, Gene and Dick Dempewolf.

A Joan L. Hayes Memorial Fund has been established.

The family would like to especially thank Dawn, of Hospice of Dubuque, and Sister Linda Bechen for the loving care provided to Joan and her family.