Joann Maria Orr 1929-2003

ORR, DEAN, MATTHEWS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/5/2008 at 01:15:54

Sioux City Journal
Tuesday, February 04, 2003

WHITING, Iowa -- Joann Maria Orr, 73, of Whiting passed away Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Congregational Church in Whiting, with the Rev. Reva B. Karstens officiating. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa.

Joann was born Sept. 10, 1929, in Whiting, the daughter of Ralph E. and Dorothy (Dean) Matthews. She graduated from Whiting Community School in 1947.
On Jan. 22, 1949, she married Vernon Orr. The couple farmed in the Whiting area for many years. She also helped with their Western Iowa Sprayers business and with their trucking business. Her true passion was her grandchildren. She provided many years of day-care for them, accepting only hugs and kisses as her payment.

She was a member of First Congregational Church and served on various committees. She was trustee of the Whiting Public Library for nearly 30 years. She loved doing her yard work and gardening. She was a founding member of the Rural Mother's Club.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Melissa and Dennis Eggerling of Whiting, and Linda and Kevin Alexander of Sergeant Bluff; a sister, Jana Johnson of Whiting; her former son-in-law, whom she loved like a son, and his wife, Mark and Bonnie Fegenbush of Whiting; nine grandchildren, Matthew, Scott, Beth and T.J. Fegenbush, Jenna, Joanna and Jackie Alexander and Jennifer and Alyssa Eggerling; and four great-grandchildren, Neal, Taylor, Chase and Braden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; a son, Steve; her parents; an infant sister, Patti Sue; and a brother-in-law, Clarence Johnson.