Joann Sickels, 94, of Osceola

JoAnn Sickels was born August 30, 1928, in Greenfield, Iowa, the daughter of Cecil A. and Bernice E. (Reed) Hamilton.  She passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 21, 2023 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Ia. at the age of 94.

JoAnn was raised in Filer, Idaho where she attended grade school. She graduated from Greenfield High School in 1945. She lived in Worland, Wyoming from 1949 to 1953. Then moved to Greenfield, Iowa in 1953, where she worked for the Adair County Memorial Hospital and the Creston Hospital.  JoAnn and Ken were united in marriage in 1966.

They then moved to Osceola. Raising chickens, rabbits, peacocks, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, cows and a few pigs on their 120-acre farm southwest of Osceola.  She was the Clarke County Soil Commissioner from 1984-1994 and served as the Mayor of Murray from 2003 thru 2005.  She was very active in the local Democrat party, being recognized by state leaders. She was a proud blood donor reaching the Lifetime Achievement Award from Life Serve.  JoAnn was a lifetime avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, loved flowers, gardening, sports and politics. She was a major sports fan of anything with a ball and almost any team. In her later years, she volunteered her time at the Osceola Senior Center where she welcomed the daily lunch goers and loved visiting with friends and playing bingo. JoAnn also volunteered at Cross Ministries, where she sorted and displayed donations and also loved to shop for a bargain.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth Sickels, sister, Patricia McMorran and step-daughter, Penny Veatch. She is survived by her children and step-children, Judy McWilliams and husband Ted of Murray, Cherie Donovan and husband Scott of Pella, Dawn Evenson and husband Frank of Winterset. Brett Sickels of Murray, KJ and wife Ardith Sickels, and Tim and wife Sue Sickels; four grandchildren, Brandon (Ana) Pinegar of Spain, Scott (Jena) Pinegar of Ankeny, Mason (Katie) McKinnie of West Des Moines, and Mandi McKinnie of Urbandale; five great grandchildren; Hunter (Reed) Pinegar of Waukee, Jake Pinegar of Ankeny, Sofia Pinegar of Spain, Crosby, Walker, and Flynn McKinnie of West Des Moines, several step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

JoAnn has donated her body to science at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, where she will forever be a Hawkeye. Her body will be cremated with her ashes joining her husband Kens and forever be ingrained in the rolling hills of their farm. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later time.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangement.