Joanne Mae Brooker

We are sad to announce the passing of Joanne Mae Brooker on June 3, 2023, at home with many of her family members at her bedside. She was born on January 15, 1935, in Jefferson, IA, the daughter of William Floyd and Alpha Mae Deaton.

Jo graduated from Jefferson, IA High School in 1953 and attended Methodist Nursing School. She met her future husband, William Russell Brooker, at a High School dance and they married on April 12, 1954 with Rita Clark as her maid of honor. They lived in Adel, where Barbara Ellen was born in 1954 and then moved in 1956 to Kellogg, IA. Norman William was born in 1957 and Paul Russell was born in 1959 while in Kellogg and they moved to Newton in 1960. They started their own business in 1962, out of a garage, with Jo doing the bookkeeping. Mark Robert was born in 1968.

During her youth, her time was spent riding horses, roller skating, riding bikes and spending time at the pool with her best friend Rita (Elliot) Clark. Her early adult life was spent gardening, traveling, volunteering with Girl Scouts, and watching her four children’s extracurricular activities. Any spare time Jo had was spent reading, cross stitch, and needlepoint.

They purchased their retirement property in ‘78 in Heber Springs, Arkansas and built their retirement home in the early 80′s and retired full time in ‘96. Jo and Bill donated a lot of time to the Humane Society as well as the Thrift Shop with those proceeds donated to the Society. She loved watching the wildlife in her backyard.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Shirley Hepp, Delores Booth, and son, Mark. Survived by her three children, Barb, Norm and Paul, eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service at Heber Springs Funeral Home on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM for family and friends.