Memorial
JoAnn Ferguson passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 91 on Saturday, August 3, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 12, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held one hour prior. Interment will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
JoAnn was born in Cedar Rapids, to Joseph and Hazel Woodford Sponar on April 22, 1933. Her sister, Donna Mae was 8 years older, and JoAnn was the baby of the family, living just one block away from Roosevelt.
Her cherished winter activity was ice skating. She spent years on the ice at a big rink the city poured and froze every winter. She trained her little black dog named Trixie to come and find her, and at mealtime her mother would send Trixie out to bring JoAnn home to eat.
She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1951. She loved playing clarinet in band.
After she graduated, she married her high school beau. They later divorced. On May 8, 1965, JoAnn married Paul O. Ferguson Jr.
JoAnn worked in secretarial positions all her adulthood. She held positions at Brinkment Engineering and Meth-Wick Manor, and then moved into office management at Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance Company and Western Fraternal Life Association.
Community volunteerism was very important to JoAnn. She was the co-leader with other moms for many years for the Blue Birds/Camp Fire Girls at Harrison Elementary. She volunteered with RSVP and was a weekly fixture at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library and at Brucemore. She was named one of Iowa’s top volunteers by Governor Chet Culver.
Being a devoted Christian was a valued lifelong commitment. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church starting with her baptism as an infant, until the sad loss of the building in the flood of 2008. She was a longtime member of the Currier Class. As a teen she had participated in the Keen Teen program at close-to-home Olivet Presbyterian Church. JoAnn was a lifelong Republican. She treasured her freedom to vote, and took pride in still voting into her 90’s. JoAnn was a member of the Elks Auxiliary and the Czech Guild.
JoAnn lived an active life league bowling, canoeing, golfing, bicycling, or playing the slots at casinos, as well as spending years with Paul on various pontoon boats they moored in the Ellis boat harbor. Going to The Flamingo for a pizza and a “shell” of beer was a Friday night staple. She also loved to travel, and was always ready to drive, fly, or go on a cruise with friends or family. For many years she wintered on South Padre Island, TX.
JoAnn’s later years took a big turn when she moved into Bickford Senior Living in Marion. She was furious at first, but then fell in love with all the staff and made many new friends. She cracked jokes and had a constant smile on her face. Making art and craft projects, hopping on the branch bus no matter what the destination, playing Bingo, and completing crossword puzzles filled her time. She was a voracious reader, and was thrilled Bickford had a library. She particularly liked mysteries and racy romance novels! Handing out Halloween candy while wearing various costumes her daughter would think up to children from the neighborhood as well as the children of staff members was sheer delight for JoAnn. There will never be enough thank yous for the folks at Bickford who kept her life filled with happy moments. To the staff - you are all true angels of God. Misty, April, Megan, and Mike… she loved you all like family.
JoAnn is survived by her daughter, Pam Moore of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Amanda and Maya Clevenger of South Park, PA, and a few nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; son, Bob Clevenger; son-in-law, Curt Moore; her sister and brother-in-law, Donna & Dean Washburn; mother-in-law, Marie Ferguson; sisters-in-laws & husbands, Virginia & Clifford Cheatham, Marion & Earl Minninger, Mildred & Leo Carney, Margery Millwee Stary, and various nieces and nephews. Also greeting her in Heaven will be a vast assortment of dogs, especially dachshunds, who called her Mommy. While she loved all animals, dogs were something she felt every home should contain.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in JoAnn’s name to her favorite charity - Camp Courageous of Iowa, 12007 190th St, Monticello, IA 52310.