In Memory of JoAnn I. Schable

JoAnn I. Schable, age 79, of Battle Creek, Iowa passed away on Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Morningside Healthcare Community of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Reverend Kevin J. Freese will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at the First Presbyterian Church, of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

JoAnn I. Schable was born on January 26, 1937, to Ernest and Nellie (Bumpsted) Christopherson. Graduating from high school in 1955, JoAnn married the love of her life Louis H. Schable on May 27, 1962. The couple made their home in Danbury and later moved to Battle Creek, Iowa in 1977. JoAnn and Louie were blessed with two children, Kevin and Renea. In 1977 she was diagnosed with acute leukemia and given 1 month to live. She did not give up because she had 2 young kids at home that she waited a long time to have.

JoAnn adored her children and stayed home to watch them grow. She also helped keep the books for the families lumber yard business that they owned and operated in Battle Creek. JoAnn was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek.

 In 1996, she found out that she had hepatitis C, that she contracted by having a blood transfusion while getting treated for her leukemia. JoAnn started getting pretty sick in the summer of 2003. Renea went through testing and found out she was a perfect match. Renea gave her right liver lobe to her mom.  On January 7th, 2004 they were the 24th living donor liver transplant surgery to happen at mayo clinic. 

She enjoyed, Tending to her flowers, gardening and watching the birds, out of the back window with her husband Louie. JoAnn truly treasured spending time with her children and grandchildren. Always being a little fighter, never wanting to give up on life, even if the odds were stacked against her. Knowing her kids and grandkids would be well taken care of, she took her last breath to be with Louie again

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Kevin Schable of Miles, Iowa, and Renea Steele (Ben Eason) of Battle Creek, Iowa; grandchildren: Austin Schable, Baylee Steele, Kennady Steele and Delaynee Steele; sister, Fern (Fred) Koerner of Danbury, Iowa; sister-in-law, Minnie Berner of Seymour, Iowa; extended family and friends.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, husband Louis “Louie” Schable; infant twin, sister, Betty (Bill) Walling; brother, Arlo Christopherson.