Joanne (Lein) Iwen
Joanne Iwen Obituary
Our Mother told us time and time again “I DO NOT want an obituary!”
We would try and tell her “Everybody has an obituary, Mom”.
She would say “Just put in the paper my name and the date I was born and the date that I died. Good enough, OK?”
“But don’t you want everyone to know that you grew up in Arthur and graduated from Arthur High School in 1948 and then went on to earn your Registered Nurse degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in 1951?”
“That was so long ago no one would even remember” she’d respond.
“Or that you married Bert Iwen in 1952 and went on to have six kids: Jonathan (Debra), Peter (Beverly), Mary (Robert), Rachel (James), Samuel (Nancy), Abraham (Janine) plus nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren?”
“Everyone already knows that about me” she’d say.
“Well, how about the fact that you worked at the Good Samaritan Home as an RN for 28 years? Or played the organ at the church since you were 12 years old till you were 88? Or lived a quiet life of service to others with very little fanfare?”
“I really don’t think anyone would be interested in that!” she’d laugh. “No, just put my name, the day I was born, and the day I flew away. Good enough, OK?”
“So, you just want something like this?”
Joanne Marie (Lein) Iwen
Born March 25, 1930
Died September 26, 2022
“Good enough, Ma?”
“Good enough” she’d say.
“Ok then”
An Open House will be held on Oct 15th from 12 – 8 pm at Joanne’s house in Arthur.
A private family service will be held graveside (she did not want a funeral either!)
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com
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