Owen, Jo Anne Leonard – 1930-2011

GOFF, LEONARD, OWEN, SELBERG

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 9/10/2022 at 14:54:49

Jo Anne Owen, of Maxwell, passed away Dec. 9, 2011, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.
Jo Anne Owen was born May 30, 1930, to Joe and Veda Leonard, of rural Mingo. Jo Anne spent her childhood climbing windmills, playing on the house roof and getting lost amongst the shag bark hickory on the farm that is now known as Ashton Wild Wood Park. The third of Joe and Veda’s five children, Jo Anne was vivacious and outgoing.
Jo Anne’s adventurous spirit and her countries’ heightened sense of patriotism following World War II, led her to Washington, D.C., where she worked under J. Edgar Hoover as a staff secretary for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While holding this position, her then landlords introduced her to a rather shy and lanky Air Force sergeant by the name of William Owen.
On Nov. 23, 1949, Jo Anne married Bill. Bill’s charm and their afternoons rowing a small boat on the Potomac eventually swayed Jo Anne. Money was tight, rowing was inexpensive and roses were a lot of money for an enlisted man. Serenades and gentle waters satisfied their time together. Purple orchids were the flowers that wooed and won Jo Anne’s heart.
Annie and Bill moved to Ames after Bill’s service time was finished. A trailer in Pammel Court University housing was made into a home. Jo Anne readied herself and their home for children while Bill studied veterinary medicine at Iowa State University.
While living in the confines of Pammel Court, daughters Debrah, Jennifer and Patrice were born. Once Dr. Owen had graduated, the family eventually settled in Maxwell. Annie’s family grew by three, Pamela, William and Joseph. A farm was purchased on the east side of town, and Jo Anne’s career was modified from that of “Mother” to Mother and livestock manager. Jo Anne quickly picked up the extended duties of rural life as cow “Heat detector” and farm hand. Her house was always neat as a pin in spite of at times a veterinary practice was being run out of her living room with spays being performed on her kitchen table and washing machine. Later, children demanded more of her time and effort. Jo Anne’s mothering was not instead of her farm duties but as an addition to her bovine care. Homemade dresses, over-night requests for baked goods and home upkeep often drew her waking hours well late into her nights. When her girls gave swimming lessons in the backyard, she usually could be seen peering out her kitchen window as a watchful lifeguard.
She restored a Victorian home in Iowa Center and became busy as “Granny Annie” once her children left home. She oversaw the design and building of her new home on the site of the cattle lot where she once pitched manure.
She volunteered at Mary Greeley Medical Center, knitting stocking caps for newborn babies. She busied herself by often creating baby blankets, draperies, clothing and quilts for her children and grandchildren. Jo Ann filled extra time in her days doing for others. Annie provided in-home care for her husband, Bill, until his death earlier this year and continued volunteering her time knitting for the hospital, doing for her family and keeping a cookie jar full of chocolate chip cookies ready for anyone who came to sit at her table.
She is survived by her six children, their spouses, 18 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bill; her son-in-law, Leslie Selberg; one sister, Mary Alice Goff; and one brother, James Leonard.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Maxwell United Methodist Church. Her body is to be interned at Ashton Cemetery near Ashton Wildwood Park and Ashton Chapel in Jasper County.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at Bacon Funeral Home in Maxwell.
Source: Ames (IA) Tribune; Sunday, December 11, 2011, page 4