Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 18, 2017, at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Ankeny (510 E. First Street). Visitation will be Thursday, beginning with a rosary at 5:00 p.m. and the family will greet friends until 8:00 p.m. at the church.
Joan was born to Joe and Grace (Hurley) Kennedy on July 13, 1925. She was raised on a Kossuth County farm, along with her twin sister, Jean, sister Patricia, and brothers Michael and Richard. At the young age of 17 she ventured to the big city of Des Moines to begin her adventures in the working world.
Over the years she worked for several car dealers as title clerk; moving into their bookkeeping departments as well. With her sharp mind and a knack for numbers, she logged over 25 years as a tax preparer, working out of her home, for commercial tax offices and volunteering with VITA, preparing income taxes for elderly and lower income individuals.
In her spare time, she played in Des Moines’ softball leagues and often went dancing with friends. While teaching dance lessons at the former Tromar Ballroom in Des Moines, a handsome young man swept her off her feet. On May 19, 1951, she married him. Edgar Wilkinson and she made their home in Des Moines; eventually settling in Carney, just south of Ankeny. Joan took great pride in the home they built, and in which she was still living independently.
Together they raised seven children – Joe (Sue) of Solon, Jean (John) McPherson of Ankeny, Janet (Greg) Willey of Ankeny, Jerri Shipp of Des Moines, John (Stephanie) of Iowa City, Joan (Henry) Ammons of Altoona, and Judy (John) Norris of Ankeny.
With a crew that size, they spent countless hours packed into a station wagon, heading to school functions, recitals, appointments, church, and weekend runs to Holiday Lake, or to visit the Brekke, Waldschmidt or Kennedy cousins. In those early years, much of their recreation was spent with their Super Valu families; camping, pinochle or with neighborhood get togethers.
Later years were spent with the families of those seven children; and—eventually--23 grandkids and—now, 23 great-grandkids. Ed preceded her in death, in 2012. Throughout their life together, the driving element was always marriage, faith and family. And of course, always having ice cream on hand for any of those grandchildren.
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