July 1, 1932 – October 7, 2021
WAVERLY-Joan Burns, 89, of Waverly, died peacefully at home with her family on Thursday, October 7th, 2021. Joan Frances Fortier was born on July 1, 1932 in Waterloo, Iowa, to Waldo and Mary (Frost) Fortier. born. She graduated from Sacred Heart School in 1950. She met Tom Burns in high school and married on February 21, 1952.
Joan (Mama, Mimi, Grams and Grandma) will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She has been a relentlessly positive and supportive presence in the lives of her children, grandchildren and friends. She has been a trusted confidante and mentor to many others. She was friendly, not judgmental, and amiable. She saw her faith as her source of strength for all of her life. Joan and Tom ran a construction company in Waterloo for many years, with Joan running the business from home and somehow raising eight children at the same time in the same happy, chaotic home. She was a talented artist who created treasured works of art for her family. She enjoyed her puzzles, crosswords and was an avid reader. She loved the game of golf and told many stories about the golf vacation she and Tom went on each winter.
Remember her children Jeff Burns (Susan), Gary Burns, Julie Deines (Dave), Laura Beenblossom (Joe), Connie Zinkula (Jerry), Paul Burns (Joan), son-in-law, Ed Kammeyer, nineteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and two Great-great-grandchildren. Joan preceded her 45-year-old husband Tom, daughter Jodi, son Danny, and sister Mary Louise Suiter in death.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 16 at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, Iowa. The visit takes place half an hour in advance. A private family burial is held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa. Masks encouraged. Monuments can be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice, Waterloo, IA.
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