Joann Baldon Brooker

JoAnn Baldon Brooker, 81, daughter of William W. and Helen Baldon was born on Christmas day of 1935 at the family home in Adel Iowa. JoAnn passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday March 27 at Faith Lutheran Church in Adel with burial to follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery near Van Meter. Visitation will be from 1:00-5:00 PM Sunday March 26 at the McCalley Funeral Home in Adel where family will greet friends beginning at 3:00 PM. JoAnn graduated from Adel High School in 1953. She then married Kenneth Brooker on February 4, 1955. The couple had 2 sons, Rex and Jon. The family lived in Adel briefly early on, then moved to Van Meter in 1959 and has been there ever since. JoAnn was living in the family's home until her last days. Throughout her life JoAnn had a variety of jobs in the Van Meter area. She spent several years at the Van Meter School working as a teacher's associate with special education kids. She also worked at the Bob Feller museum, greeting guests and getting to personally meet several of Bob Feller's baseball buddies (Tommy Lasorda was one of her fondest memories). In different ways, both of these jobs gave her great pleasure and sense of satisfaction. However, her most important job was that of being a stay at home mother, nurturing her family. JoAnn was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church in Adel. She was also very engaged with her sons' school activities including PTA, Athletic and Music booster functions. JoAnn was a member of the Van Meter American Legion Women's Auxiliary. She was a big high school sports fan for Van Meter and surrounding schools, attending as many games as she could and searching the radio dial for a game when she could no longer get out. JoAnn was also a big Chicago Cubs fan and very much enjoyed last year's World Series. JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents William W. and Helen Baldon, and her sisters Creta Ward, Barbara Nuzum, Betty Lallinger, and Dorothy York. She is survived by her brother Fred Baldon (Jo), son Rex (Susan Miller) of Knoxville, son Jon (Laura) of Urbandale, grandchildren Austin Brooker of Scottsdale, AZ, Michelle Brooker of Overland Park, KS, Bailey Brooker of Ames, and Molly Brooker of Ankeny. Online condolences may be left on this site. Memorial donations will be directed to Faith Lutheran Church of Adel.