Joanne Callen

Joanne Callen went home to be with our Lord on June 25th, 2016, with her family by her side. Funeral services will be held on Thursday June 30th, 2016 at Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown at 10:30 a.m. A public visitation will be held on Wednesday June 29th, from 57:00 p.m. at the Elim Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to Iowa River Hospice, Emergency Food Box, or Elim Lutheran Church. For condolences please contact www.mithcellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Joanne Irene Stolzman the 2nd child of Charles Cap and Bernice (Selvig) Stolzman, was born April 26th, 1944. Her father Cap was killed in a farming accident when she was just a young girl. Bernice then married Herb Dickkut and the four of them started a new family. Three additional siblings completed the family of seven and all were raised on the Dickkut farm north of Marshalltown. Joanne attended Albion school and there met Jim Hunt. The two were married September 30, 1959. She and Jim were married for 13 years and had four children, their oldest Debra Jo in 1960, their 2nd child Laura born in 1961 died in 64 with health complications, James Jr. born in 1962 and Rodney Charles in 1964. Joanne and Jim divorced in 1972 and she began the long journey of what we call today, single parenting. That alone should begin to tell the story of the hard working, loving, caring and wonderful Mother any three kids could have asked for. Joanne worked for many years at the Thunderbird for Barlows and the Bowmans. She then got a start in the office of the Marshalltown Credit Bureau. Within a few years she was hired at Crescent Electric Supply and worked there until she retired in 2003. In 1974 she met and later married Kenneth Callen in Marshalltown and they enjoyed a wonderful life spending time traveling the country seeing every state in the lower 48. Joanne and Ken still lived in the same house on 19th street where she raised her kids. But also own a place in Florida where they spent the winter months. She has a number of new friends there and truly enjoyed the warm weather down south during the cold months here. The Marshalltown house is a place we still call home and mom loved it. Joanne was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in August of 2014. She began treatments and extended her time on earth we believe, for us. She was always doing for us and many others. She worked hard most all her life, on the farm as a young girl and then most times with two jobs raising kids during her single years. The later years were much easier on her and we are all thankful of that. She took up the game of golf and enjoyed her groups at Elmwood, the American Legion and her home course in Florida too. She said it didnt matter what club she hit on the 90 yard, #9 hole at The Legion, she hit the ball and it went in the cup, period! Moms 1st ACE. It was a 5 wood. She had a very active volunteer life after her working career ended. She enjoyed staying busy and helping others at Elim Lutheran Church, the House of Compassion and the Emergency Food Box just to name a few. In 2013 she received an award from the City for her hours of volunteering within the different groups. She loved to cook and was darn good at it. She knew her way around a kitchen and we will all miss her cookies, cakes, brownies, and her gravy. We will miss everything about her. She was the cornerstone that held this family together for so many years she will be missed by all. She was a great Mother, Sister, Daughter, Wife and Friend. She was blessed to have so many that loved her and we feel blessed to have had her to love. Everyone wanted to be close to her, to know her was to love her. She never had an unkind word to say about anyone, and everyone she came into contact with became a true friend. She will truly be missed by her husband Ken, daughter Debra (John) Oetker, son James (Candy) Hunt Jr., son Rod (Val) Hunt. Grandchildren John Oetker Jr., Lindsay (Kyle) Kusserow, Samantha (Kyle) Opperman, Travis (Jena) Hunt, Emily Hunt, Tanner Hunt. Great grandkids, Carter Hunt, Caleb & Ava Kusserow, Logan Oetker & Max Opperman. Brother Herb (JoEllin) Dickkut, Sisters Virginia (Ray) Stowell, Kathy (Bob) Clawson, and Nancy Dickkut and her friend Randy. Nieces and Nephews, Karen (Marty) Sharer, Teresa (Dave) Gallagher, Greg (Amy) Dickkut. Many more extended family, cousins, great nieces, nephews, and special friends. The extended Hunt family as well. Joanne was preceded in death by her father Charles Cap, her mother Bernice, her dad Herb Dickkut, daughter Laura Lynn, her in-laws Clyde & Helen Callen, nephew Herbie Dickkut and a host of aunts and uncles from the Strolzman, Selvig, Dickkut, & Callen families and her very special friend Mama Tanny Stanley. The path our Mother has taken and the manner in which she conducted herself through life, we truly believe at the gates of heaven she will hear the Lord say, Welcome home Joanne, you have been a true and faithful servant. God has bigger plans for you now. Lay down your earthly working tools and rejoice in the house of the Lord. And with that, we look to the heaven above and find comfort. Rest-in-peace Mom, until we are together again