Obituary of Joan Marilyn Feldmann

Joan M. Feldmann, 84 of Rickardsville, Iowa passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque.

Visitation will be held from 3 -7 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville.  Visitation will continue Saturday morning at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Balltown from 9 – 10:15 a.m. prior to funeral mass.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (468 Balltown Rd, Balltown, Iowa) with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Tyler Raymond will officiate.

Joan was born on May 15, 1939 in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Lawrence and Loretta (Hefel) Decker.  She received her education at Saint Joseph’s Academy in Dubuque, Iowa.  After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper at The Dubuque Packing Company, John Deere, and Art Pape Trucking. She met her husband of 61 years at a wedding dance in Petersburg. She married Celester A. Feldmann October 20, 1962, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Balltown, Iowa. Together they farmed near Rickardsville, raising hogs and crops. 

Joan was a member of St. Joseph Church, Rickardsville where she was active with the Rosary Society.  She kept busy tending to the large family garden and sharing the harvest with friends and family.  She demonstrated her love through her talents in the kitchen with tasty creations including homemade breads, applesauce, pies, and salsa.  The fruit cellar had a bountiful supply of goodies.  Joan was a talented seamstress and loved to sew from a young age.  In retirement, she cherished her sewing club gatherings and submitted some of her creations to the Dubuque County Fair, winning a ribbon or two.  Joan was active with her childrens’ activities, and mentored young girls as a 4-H leader.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and devoted husband Les.

Joan was a loving wife and mother. Survivors include her children: John (Kirby) Feldmann of Racine, WI, Lora Feldmann of Eden Prairie, MN, and Linda Feldmann (Dan Kraemer) of Chicago; siblings:  John Decker (Connie Beaver) of Sherrill, Larry (Trudy) Decker of Sherrill, Kathy Koch of Farley, Ann (Andy) Baumann of Dubuque; in-laws: Don Schmitt of Holy Cross, Lavonne (Leander) Burke of Earlville, Elmer (Dorothy) Feldmann of Hopkinton, Dave (Sandy) Feldmann of Alburnett, Leanna Feldmann of Dyersville, Loras (Mary) Feldmann of Farley, Gerald (Barb) Feldmann of Epworth, Irv Feldmann of Earlville, Tony (Joyce) Feldmann of Earlville, and Dan (Barb) Feldmann of Cedar Rapids, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Les Dec. 21, 2023; parents-in-law, Isabella (Jaeger) and Anton Feldmann; sister, Janet Schmitt; sister-in-law, Theresa (Leon) Burkle; brother-in-law, Floyd (Rita) Feldmann; brother-in-law, Jerome (Mary Jane) Feldman; brother-in-law, Paul Feldmann; brother-in-law, Steve Koch, and Joan’s twin, June Decker in infancy.

The family would like to thank the staff of Stonehill and Hospice of Dubuque for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sherrill Volunteer Fire Department, 5307 S Mound Rd

Sherrill, IA 52073 and Lasalle Catholic School, 835 Church St. PO Box 368, Holy Cross, IA 52053.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12^th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040.