Joann M. Stange, age 79, of Albert City, Iowa, died on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at the North Lake Manor in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rembrandt, Iowa. Burial will follow in the Little Sioux Valley Cemetery in Rembrandt. Visitation will take place Tuesday, June 28, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Joann Marie Wills, the daughter of Oliver and Inez (Roehlk) Wills was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, on July 21, 1936. She lived her youth in the Albert City vicinity and was a graduate of the Albert City High School. Joann was baptized as a teenager at the Church of Christ in Laurens, Iowa.

Following her high school graduation, Joann continued her education at the Spencer School of Business. Joann was employed by the Department of the Navy in Washington, DC and later returned to northwest Iowa where she was a bookkeeper for businesses in Sioux City and Storm Lake. She then attended the Faust Beauty College.

Joann was united in marriage to James Cejka in 1954, at the Church of Christ in Laurens, Iowa and this union was blessed with one daughter, Debra, who died in infancy. In 1961, Joann married Alfred “Salty” Christiansen and they had two children: Terry and Carmen. On February 19, 1993, Joann was united in marriage to Jerry Stange at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, Iowa. Throughout her lifetime, Joann had owned and operated a bar and restaurant and then worked with Jerry as a truck driver for 8 years before her health prevented her from continuing in that profession. For the past 2 ½ years Joann has resided at the North Lake Manor in Storm Lake.

Special pastimes of Joann’s included playing bingo, cribbage, pinochle, reading and doing word puzzles.

Joann’s life will always be loved and cherished by her family which include her husband, Jerry of Albert City, Iowa; two children: Terry Christiansen of Iowa City, Iowa; and Carmen (Bruce) Stone of Spencer, Iowa; a nephew who had lived with Joann, Allen (Laurie) Bland of Newell, Iowa; step-children: Allen (Deb) Stange of Aurelia, Iowa; Sonja (Curtis) Sievers of Linn Grove, Iowa; Jeff (Sharon) Stange of Pomeroy, Iowa; John (Dawn) Stange of Schaller, Iowa; Wade Christiansen of Schaller, Iowa; Rebecca (David) Segebart of Schaller, Iowa; Clyde (Bev) Christiansen of Storm Lake, Iowa; 19 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands: Jim and “Salty”; and one sister, Marilyn Weiss.

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