Joan Koenig

Farewell services will be held Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 2:17 p.m. at the Koenig Farm Pasture on the south end of Gillett Grove. Burial will follow in the Rosehill Cemetery in rural Gillett Grove. Visitation will begin at 1:03 p.m. until the beginning of the service at the pasture. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Joan O’Hearn was born January 13, 1931 in Spencer, Iowa, to Omer and Marguerite (Parks) O’Hearn.

On February 20, 1949 Joan was united in marriage to William “Bill” Koenig in Spencer. Together they did farming and custom shelling. There she developed her ability to cook and provide food for large crowds. Together they were blessed with six children: Steve, Deb, Marty, Cindy, Randy, and Jeff.

Joan had a strong love for horses and mules. Joan was a proud supporter of the Shayla Bee Foundation, Reins of Hope, and Pony Express Riders of Iowa fundraisers. She was also an avid Clay County Fair goer.

Joan’s life adventures started when she was less than 1 year old when her mother drove a Model T to the World’s Fair in Chicago with Joan and her two siblings. From there, life has provided her with one adventure after another, including annually participating in the Albert City Threshermen’s Bee, driving a car in the Clay County demolition derby in 1966, plowing potatoes annually at the Wiegert Prairie Fall Festival in August in Pocahontas, Iowa, trail riding at age 82 from Flandreau to Madison, S.D., driving a donkey; participating in the Great American Cattle Drive from Fort Worth, Texas, to Miles City, MT, and even parking cars at the Clay County Fair.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Bill of Gillett Grove, Iowa; children: Deb (Al) Meuth of Leoti, Kansas; Marty (Sue) Koenig of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Cindy (Todd) Pritchard of Gillett Grove, Iowa; Randy (Rhonda) Koenig of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Jeff (friend Donna Meyer) Koenig of Gillett Grove, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters Pat Johnson of Spencer, Iowa; Janet Koenig of Spencer, Iowa; extended family and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; son, Steve; brother, Eugene; sisters: Jackie Sorenson and Janice Schultz and daughter- in-law, Brenda Koenig.

The End of the Trail.

Click here to view Joan Koenig's Memorial Folder

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