In Memory of JoAnn D. Heath

JoAnn D. Heath, age 94, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 9, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Friday, December 9, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Norma JoAnn Derscheid Heath (94) of Ida Grove, Iowa (formerly of Waterloo, Iowa) passed away on December 4, 2022, in Holstein, Iowa. JoAnn was born February 18, 1928, on her grandparents’ farm in Webster County, Iowa, the daughter of Marcelean (Friday) Derscheid Blue and the late John Frederick Derscheid.

JoAnn lived in the Webster City area and graduated from Webster City High School in 1946. Beginning at age 16, she spent summers and the two years after graduation working for the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. and living with her aunt Mary Ollie Friday.

In 1948 she entered Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she studied for two years. She married Donald Francis Heath on May 29, 1950, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Don and JoAnn made their home in Waterloo and they welcomed three children: Diane, David, and Martha. In 1972 the family relocated to Ida Grove, Iowa. 

During her years in Ida Grove, JoAnn served as one of the first Ida County Judicial Magistrates, a post she held for more than 20 years. She was also active as a Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, and volunteered for many organizations including the Horn Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and SHIIP.  

JoAnn is survived by her children Diane (Phil) Neri of Sioux City, IA, Dave (Sue) Heath of Ankeny, IA and Martha (Todd) Sinclair of Waterloo, IA. There are four grandchildren: Zach Neri, Laura (Jason) Arme, Hunter Sinclair and Olivia Sinclair; three step-grandchildren: Geneva (Tyler) Dillon, Kevin Sinclair, and AJ (Celeste) Sinclair; four great-grandchildren: Deondre, Jordan, and Ciara Neri and Tatum Schwartzkopf; and eight step-great-grandchildren: Zach, Gabe, Nate, Ezra, and Lia Dillon and Ronan, Aliza, and Maverick Sinclair.  She is also survived by her brother Ron (Karen) Blue, sister Bonnie (Doug) Patrick, and sister-in-law Hester Derscheid. 

She was preceded in death by her father (before her birth) and mother; sisters Marjorie Neese, Lois Hansen and Judy Blue; brothers Richard Derscheid, James Blue; and beloved aunt Mary Ollie Friday.