Joan Clary

Joan Bradley Clary passed away on May 14, 2025 at the age of 87. Joan died under the gentle care of Gentiva Hospice and StoryPoint Senior Living staff after a long illness with dementia. Private burial of her cremated remains will occur at a future date at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Joan was born in Percival, Iowa on December 26, 1937, to Ernie and Irene Bradley. She moved to Hamburg, Iowa after attending her first years of school in a one-room schoolhouse. Joan was very active in school activities including marching band, choir, and the homecoming court during her senior year in 1956. She met her sweetheart, Lynn Clary, in Hamburg and they were married in 1957. Lynn was drafted soon after their wedding and later stationed at the Pentagon. Joan bravely drove around Washington D.C. by herself in her pink two-door Rambler to find a job she loved at a local car dealership. They returned to Iowa when Lynn’s father became seriously ill and built a home in Des Moines.

Lynn and Joan celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in May 2021. To this union a family of two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren were born. Joan loved her family unconditionally. She was a seamstress, enjoyed crocheting, loved trips to the Ozarks, and the Kansas City Royals. Her kids and grandkids would always reach for one (or two) of her chocolate chip cookies as soon as they stopped by for a visit and she always had more dough ready to bake in the freezer.

Joan’s health declined quickly after Lynn’s passing in September 2021. We are forever grateful for the wonderful care provided to Joan by the staff at StoryPoint Senior Living and Gentiva Hospice.

Joan is survived by son, Scott (Suzanne) of Norwalk; daughter, Janet (Todd) of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Zachary (Maria), Tanner (MacKenzie), Ryan (Jack), Samuel (Emma), and Kathryn; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Liana, and Matthew; and nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lynn; brother and sister-in-law, Arnold and Jeanette Bradley; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Kent and Helen Clary; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends. She is finally in her heavenly home now, watching a Royals game with Lynn by her side and discussing where to go for ice cream after the game.

The family kindly requests that, in place of flowers, donations be made to a charity meaningful to you in Joan’s memory.