Laurence Carl Johannes

Sibley, IA Laurence Carl Johannes age 96 of Sibley, IA, passed away at home December 27, 2014. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 31st at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Sibley, IA, with Fr. Allan Reicks and Fr. Timothy Hogan concelebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Ashton, IA. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 30th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. There will be a Rosary at 5 p.m. and prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Laurence was born November 4, 1918 to Jake and Mary (Seivert) Johannes of Ashton, Iowa. He received his formal education at St. Joseph's Catholic School and then went on to study mechanics at the Sibley Farmers Night School. Laurence married Joan Schoo on October 4, 1950 and moved to the Johannes family farm 3 miles north of Ashton. Their family grew to include three children, Michael, Mary Beth and Denis. The couple semi-retired and moved to Sibley in 1983 where Laurence continued to farm and help neighbors until his 90th birthday in 2008. Over the years Laurence had been an avid motorcycle rider of Harley's, collected coins, and spent time reading history and westerns. He most enjoyed playing cards with his friends and family. Laurence had been a long time member of the Knights of Columbus and a parishioner of both St. Mary's and St. Andrew's churches. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Johannes; son, Michael Johannes of Ames, IA; daughter, Mary Beth Johannes and son, Denis Johannes both of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Zita Thiele of Sibley, IA; nieces, nephews and many extended family members. Laurence was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Viola Trei, Helen Swanson, Laura Jungers, Rosemary Seivert and Alice Heffele; brothers, Martin Johannes and John Johannes.