JoAnn Catherine Ahlers

JoAnn Catherine Ahlers, 75, of Remsen, IA passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen surrounded by family.          Funeral service time is at 10:30am, Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. Bill McCarthy and Rev. Richard Ball from Granville, IA.  Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen.  Visitation will be anytime after 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, there will be a parish rosary at 3p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.        JoAnn was born October 18, 1935 in LeMars, Iowa the daughter of Henry and Mildred (Nilles) Harpenau.  JoAnn was raised in the Remsen area and graduated from Remsen St. Mary’s Catholic High School in 1953.  She worked at Aalfs Manufacturing in LeMars, IA and the Farmer’s Savings Bank in Remsen, IA.  She married Ervin Ahlers on October 16, 1956 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen.  They farmed north of Remsen until moving into town in 1994.  JoAnn worked at the Happy Siesta and Remsen Apparel for 14 years until retiring. She had been a resident of Happy Siesta since Nov. 2009.       JoAnn was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Women’s Guild and past member of Catholic Daughters of America.  She enjoyed square dancing, mixed league bowling, card club, birthday club, pinochle at the nursing home, going out to eat and spending time with family & friends.        Survivors include her husband, Ervin of Remsen; 3 daughters; Renee and Ron Strand of Spirit Lake, IA, Karen Foushee of Sioux City, IA, LuAnn and Dave Hintz of Aberdeen, SD; 3 sons; Paul and Mary Ahlers, Ken and Bonnie Ahlers and Keith and Cindy Ahlers all of Remsen; 19 grandchildren; Melissa Strand of Sioux City, IA, Laura and Josh Sherburne of Hopkins, MN, Stephanie Strand of Spirit Lake, IA, Matt Ahlers of El Dorado, KS, Steve and Audrey Ahlers of Colo, IA, Amanda and Dusty Heitmann of Galva, IA, Jessica Ahlers of Remsen, IA, Kendra and Brent Richter of Columbus, NE, Stacie Ahlers of Remsen, IA; Kayla and Kimberly Foushee of Sioux City, IA; Ryan Buffington of Oshkosh, WI, Jacob and Joanie Ahlers, Craig, Justina and Shaylynn Ahlers all of Remsen,  Catherine and Danielle Hintz of Aberdeen, SD; 5 great-grandchildren. 4 sisters; Cloette and Darrel Schroeder of LeMars, IA, Rosemary and Denis Schilmoeller of Granville, IA, Ann and Larry Galles of Remsen, IA and Carol Harpenau of Omaha, NE; 3 brothers ; Clarence and Veronica Harpenau, Rich and Pauline Harpenau, Jim and Mary Lea Harpenau, all of Remsen; one sister-in-law, Lou and Jim Gergeni of LeMars, IA.          JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Jeanette in infancy, one brother Paul Harpenau, her parents-in-law, Lawrence and Olivia Ahlers, brother-in-law Mike Pohlen, and one grandson Lucas Ahlers.          Casket Bearers will be Steve, Jacob and Craig Ahlers. Brent Richter, Dusty Heitmann and Josh Sherburne.