SQUIER, JoAnn (Sheldon, Counsell) 1938-2008

SQUIER, GREEN, SHELDON, COUNSELL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/25/2011 at 11:43:27

Jo Ann Squier

Jo Ann Squier, age 70, of rural Riceville, died on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at her home, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, November 8, at the First United Methodist Church in Osage, with Rev. Anna Blaedel officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-8:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Jo Ann was born on January 31, 1938 at Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Walter W. and Marcella E. (Green) Sheldon. She graduated from the Osage High School in 1955. Jo Ann married Maurice "Skip" Counsell on June 3, 1956 in Osage. Maurice passed away on February 12, 1974.

She married Gene Squier on March 5, 1977 in Osage. Jo Ann worked most recently as the Riceville Deputy City Clerk. She previously worked as a farm wife, bookkeeper, dental assistant, homemaker health aide and self-employed crafter, in addition to her most important duties as that of mom and grandmother.

Jo Ann was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Osage since 1952, where she was a member of various church organizations.

She served as the Sunday service facilitator at the Mitchell County Care Facility for a number of years. Jo Ann was instrumental with the restoration and maintenance of the Beaver Creek (Brownville) Cemetery since 1978. She was a local organizer of the Riceville Blood Drive for 30 years and was on the American Red Cross District Board for several years. Jo Ann was a 4-H Leader. She was also a volunteer for the Easter Seals Society and was a former local Farm Bureau President. Jo Ann enjoyed baking, crocheting, knitting, gardening, sewing, and loved birds.

Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Gene Squier of Riceville; children, Merry (Jim) Spiers of Grant City, Missouri, Donald (Shelly) Counsell of Orchard, Denise Counsell of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Deanna Counsell and Mark Muth of Delano, Minnesota and Heather (Pete) Rysavy of St. Ansgar; three brothers, Gary (Vieta) Sheldon of Phillipsburg, Missouri, Walter (Sharon) Sheldon of Osage and Allyn (Darlene) Sheldon of Osage; a sister, Sharon (Howard) Shaw of Osage; grandchildren, Derek and Cole Counsell, Merrideth Spiers and Logan Rysavy; mother-in-law, Norma Squier of Stacyville; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Maurice D. Counsell; Loren and Grace Bucknell, who helped raise her; step-mother, Alzina Sheldon; and father-in-law, Paul Squier.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage.

[Mitchell County Press from:
http://ncigs.org/obituaries/osage/2008/november.htm ]