Joan Alice Hale

Joan Alice (Brown) Hale passed away on April 24, 2024, at Southridge Care Facility with loving family at her bedside. Care Initiatives Hospice assisted in her care.

Services will be Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Mitchell Family Funeral Home, with her visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and a short service at 5:00 p.m. A supper will be served after the services with everyone welcome. Joan will be cremated at a later time.

Joan was born January 27, 1935 in her grandparent’s home to Donald Brown and Helene (Maynard) Brown. She stayed in her grandparent’s home for 2 years while with her parents traveled across the country, performing with the Blue Ridge Mountaineers Band. She attended school in Marshalltown, Fort Worth, Texas and Steamboat Rock, where she was a cheerleader.

Joan was married to Dale Hale and had 3 children: Valorie, Vick, and Lisa. They later divorced. The family enjoyed camping, fishing and riding horses. They were members of the Mormon Ridge Saddle Club. The horses were later replaced with motorcycles. Jo and Dale traveled all over the United States and Canada on the cycle. They were members of the Retreads International Motorcycle Club. Joan enjoyed being regional director in the Retreads Club for the Midwest states.

Joan was a nursing assistant, retiring from the Iowa Veterans Home. After retirement, she became an avid reader, and enjoyed crafts such as painting and making jewelry. She also corresponded with soldiers overseas.

Joan is survived by her children: Valorie (John) Lang, Vick (Mary) Hale, and Lisa Harris; sisters: Jean Towle of Nesbit, Mississippi and Toni (Richard) Yohn of Marshalltown; six grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren along with nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law: Vern Towle and Dillard Hale and Carrol and Dorothy Clark.

--Lovingly written by Joan’s family