Joanne Shirley (Heft) Rowell

Joanne was born in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1943, to Vernon and Pearl (Hermann) Heft. She graduated from Luther South High School and became a registered nurse at Augustana Hospital Nursing School. She earned a bachelors degree in public health and was a certified OSHA nurse. Joanne worked for Hinsdale Hospital, Waste Management, Lagrange Memorial Hospital, and retired from Dickinson County Hospital.

On May 16, 1964, Joanne married Paul Rowell in Chicago and divorced in 1989. Joanne and Paul had two children, Beth and Scott whom she loved very much.

Throughout her life, she had a love of healthy cooking, traveling, adventure, photography and gardening. She loved her cats and all animals. She volunteered at health fairs in hospitals and churches, and was also a pathfinder leader. She found Faith communities in the Methodist and Seventh-day Adventist churches.

Joanne will be deeply missed by her children, Beth (Jay) Hellman and Scott (Sarah) Rowell; and seven grandchildren, Ben Hellman (Ellen), Chelsea (James) DallaValle, Grace Hellman, Daniel Hellman, Madison Beck, Joshua Hellman and Olivia Hellman; and a great-granddaughter, Leni Jane DallaValle.

Joanne was proceeded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Iron Mountain Community Church: N-3770 Pine Mountain Road in Iron Mountain. Her funeral service will be held at the same location at 2 p.m. followed by a potluck meal.

Joanne’s family would like to thank the staff of Family Ties Adult Daycare, the staff of Sunny Days in home care, the nursing staff at Marshfield Medical, and Dr. Beth Schroeder for their kind, devoted and supportive care of Joanne so that she could live at home with her family even as her dementia progressed. Her family is truly grateful.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Joanne S. Rowell online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.