Mildred Joan Beary

Mildred Joan “Jo Ann” (Marlin) Beary, age 91, of Lovilia, IA, passed away on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at West Ridge Specialty Care in Knoxville, IA. Joan was born near Bussey, Iowa Jan 28th, 1932. Joan was the 4th of 8 children of John Henry and Mildred Victoria (Spaur) Marlin. Her brother John was disappointed his new sister was not a boy. The family moved to Albia when Joan was about three. Joan graduated from Albia High School in the Class of 1949. She loved music and while in high school sang in the chorus, girls’ sextet, and the All-State Chorus. When she attended school there were no girls’ sports, but she was an Albia High School cheerleader of 4 years and one year cheerleader at Westmar College. Joan earned a two-year teaching certificate from Westmar College, LaMars, IA in 1951 and a BA from Drake University in 1968. She taught in Ackley, IA before teaching at Attica Elementary which was then consolidated to become Twin Cedars Elementary School located near Bussey, IA. Joan Marlin and Larry Beary were married at St Mary’s Church in Albia August 9th 1952.. After three years at Mac Dill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL., the family moved back to farm in Monroe, Marion, and Lucas Counties. They shared 70 years together and were blessed with 5 children: Kathy, David, Chris, Randy, and Scott. Joan loved teaching and in 1994 she retired from Twin Cedars Elementary School after a total of 35 years of teaching. She was named Twin Cedars “Teacher of the Year”. After her retirement, she volunteered at the Albia Library and did substitute teaching in Twin Cedars, Melcher Dallas, Loviila and Albia. Joan was active in St. Mary’s Church, Weller, from 1955 to its closing in 1994. She taught catechism, read Mass readings, sang in the choir and was secretary of the church council. When rumors of the possible closing of St. Mary’s Church surfaced, she talked with the priest and formed a committee and began collecting Wellar and St. Mary’s history, pictures, facts and memories. After several years, they published the book “Weller Roots, a History of the Weller Community and St. Mary’s Church”. The book was a history of the Priests assigned to St. Mary’s and included church records of births, baptisms and marriages as well as cemetery records. Joan was an active member of Twin Cedars Dollars for Scholars and helped develop the web site for Twin Cedars, Iowa High School Hall of Pride in Des Moines. She also worked to record a history of the schools that combined to make up the Twin Cedars School District – Attica, Bussey, Tracy, Pershing, Hamilton and Marysville schools. As a member of the Monroe County Retired School Personnel, she was instrumental in the County School Museum project that recorded the history of Monroe County country schools as well as any school in the county that was no longer is use. She was also a member of the Monroe County Museum Board, St. Mary’s Church in Albia, and the Altar and Rosary Society, St. Mary’s Albia. Joan loved all her growing family and enjoyed getting them together often for family dinners to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. She made delicious zucchini bread and noodles were a must whenever family came to visit. Every five years, the family came together for a family picture and dinner from the 35th anniversary through the 60th.She enjoyed her many flowers, gardening, crocheting and embroidering. She would make a quilt for each new grandchild and great grandchild. While dating, Joan and Larry roller skated in Albia, Moravia and at the Ottumwa Airport. They went to all the many church dances in Melrose, Georgetown and Weller. Later they joined the Albia Lads and Lassie’s Square Dance Club. Survivors include children Kathy (Bruce) Baumbaugh, Syracuse, IN., David Beary, Lovilia, IA, Chris (Bill) Lanphier, Cincinnati, OH., Randy (Tina) Beary, Mt. Pleasant, IA., and Scott Beary, Hamilton, IA. 16 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers: Don (Jenny) Marlin, of Albia and Wayne (Candance) Marlin of Williamsburg, one sister, Kay (Larry) DeVos, Flora, IN. and four sisters in laws, Joyce Koffman, Eden, WI, Helen Williams, Ft. Worth, TX, Georgina Beary, Cedar Rapids, IA, Betty Beary, Newton, IA. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents John and Mildred Marlin, her brother John Marlin, three sisters, Hazel Baker, Darlene Amoss, and Jayne Hughell, 8 brothers in law, Jim Baker, Lawrence Amoss, Leland Bettis, Ernie Corso, Alex Koffman, Pete Williams, Walt Beary and Jerome Beary, 3 sisters in law, Loretta Corso, Pauline Claman and Lelah Marlin and parents in law, Walter and Mary Beary. Visitation will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 17, 2023, at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Joan’s family present to greet family and friends. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 18, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia, with Father Mark Yates C.PP.S. officiating. Following services, a luncheon will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church prior to the burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Weller. A memorial has been established to Twin Cedars Dollars for Scholars.

Mildred Joan Beary

January 28, 1932 - September 10, 2023