Joanne J. Vust

Funeral Service livestream Link

Little Rock, IA

Joanne J. Vust age 91 of Little Rock, IA  passed away on Friday afternoon, February 16, 2024, at the George Good Samaritan Society in George, IA.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, with Pastor Bryan Anderson officiating.  Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George.

Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church on Thursday morning.

Joanne Joyce (DeBerg) Vust was born on July 26, 1932 on a farm near Sibley, IA to Helmer and Helen (Kruger) DeBerg. The family lived on several farms in the area and Joanne attended various country schools until graduating from the 8th grade when she stayed home and helped on the family farm.

On May 25, 1951 she was united in marriage to Louis Marvin Vust. Since Louis was drafted into the army and served in Korea, she spent those early months with her parents waiting for him to join her as they started their life together on a farm west of Little Rock in 1953. There they raised two children, LaVerle and Mary Jo. Joanne was a hard worker and in addition to being a housewife, she worked various jobs including Priebes and Sibley Creamery. Eventually, she and her sister, Ora Fischer, started a painting and wallpapering business and were very busy and in demand throughout the region.

Joanne had a deep love of God and professed her faith in song by singing with Louis and her sisters and friends. She was known for her lovely soprano voice and performed in many church services and functions. She always had a hymnal in the car to duet with Louis while traveling down the road. For many years she helped in teaching Sunday School to the pre-school children. She was also known for her delicious cooking and the many cakes and pies that came from her kitchen. Every winter season family and friends looked forward to her anise candy.

Joanne also loved traveling and enjoyed many winters in the Florida Keys and Casa Grande, Arizona. For many years they also took biannual fishing trips to Sauk Centre, Minnesota with friends where she helped prepare many a meal of northern pike. She delighted in the birth of her two granddaughters and was very involved in their lives. One of her pleasures later in life was watching the Wheel of Fortune with Louis and was often the first to solve the puzzles. She had a quick sense of humor and could do some mean imitations when called for.

Joanne was blessed with a long, healthy life but in her last years, slowly succumbed to dementia. But even then she exhibited her gentle, sweet spirit allowing Louis and her to continue living on their farm until three weeks before her passing on February 16, 2024.  She will always be remembered as a devoted, loving wife, a woman of strong, steadfast faith, and a kind and caring mother and grandmother. We were blessed to have her in our lives.

Joanne is survived by her husband Louis, son LaVerle (Clara) Vust of Miami, daughter Mary Jo (Darryl) Huls of Boyden; granddaughters Kristy (David) McVay and Kary Huls; great grandson Louis Paul McVay; sister Ora Fischer, sister-in-law DonNita DeBerg and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Helmer and Helen; parents-in-law Lucas and Jennie Vust; brothers Alvin, James, Johnnie and Leo; sisters Vera Mulder, Arlene Arends, and Phyllis Vanden Brink.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be directed to the local hospice.

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