A Mass of Christian Burial for Joanne Kelly will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Inurnment is at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa
Joanne Frances Kelly was born June 29, 1935, at home in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Conrad and Marie (McEwan) Kliegl. She attended grade school in Cylinder and graduated from Emmetsburg Catholic High School in 1953. She later attended the Gale Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On June 19, 1954, Joanne was united in marriage to Donald Kelly at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. The couple made their home in Waterloo, Iowa, from 1954 to 1965. Don worked in the grocery business and Joanne was a stay-at-home wife and mother. They loved to roller skate and dance together.
The family returned to Emmetsburg in 1965. At that time, Joanne began working at the Palo Alto County Hospital and remained there for the next 35 years.
Joanne was passionate about cooking and baking from a young age - a love that continued until her final days on this earth. Her talent in the kitchen translated to many experiences of enjoying great conversations and wonderful food with all of the people she knew.
As a young bride, Joanne began collecting recipes from friends and family that resulted in her writing two popular cookbooks. Both sold out and are no longer in print.
Joanne passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025 at the Emmetsburg Care Center at the age of 89. She is survived by three children, Kevin and wife, Cheryl of Marion, Iowa; Steve and wife, Judy of Duluth, Minnesota; and Mary of Emmetsburg. Joanne was also blessed with nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Also surviving are five sisters, Catherine Neary, Mary (Dwayne Hartman), Janet (Lyle Halstead), Lorraine (Jerry Prahl), Jeanne (Dick Kudrna) and sister-in-law Maureen Kliegl
Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Donald in 1996; her daughter, Lorraine; and son, Richard and his wife, Debra. She is also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Helen DeWitt; and a brother, Patrick Kliegl.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com
