Joann Billee Aukes - Waukee

Joann Billee (Groote) Aukes, of Waukee, Iowa died July 9, 2014 at her home in Waukee. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, July 28th, at Faith Lutheran Church, in Adel, Iowa with interment at 3:00 PM at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Cemetery northeast of Wellsburg, Iowa. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service time. Joann Billee Groote was the daughter of William Groote and Jeanette Dirks Groote of Grundy Center, Iowa. She was born on February 6, 1930 in the family home in Grundy Center. She attended Grundy Center Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. Joann was an excellent student. She participated in many of the school's music programs, including girl's sextet and the high school band where she played the alto saxophone. She was pleased that both organizations earned awards in State competition during her participation. She graduated from high school in 1948. Joann enrolled at Iowa State Teacher's College (now UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa the fall of 1948. She continued there until early February 1949. On February 25, 1949 she was united in marriage with Virgil Aukes of Wellsburg, Iowa. Virgil lived with his mother and her family on the family farm north of Wellsburg, where he operated the farm with his Mother. After the wedding Joann made her home with Virgil on the family farm. In March of 1951 they moved to a farm southwest of Morrison where they started their own farm operation. In November of 1951, during the Korean War, Virgil was required to enter military service. Joann was able to be with him during several months of training in San Diego, California and for three years of his permanent duty in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On January 17, 1954 their first son, Dean, was born in Hawaii. The family returned from Hawaii in November of 1955. They next three years they lived in Ames, Iowa where Virgil attended Iowa State College (now ISU) and Joann worked full-time at Union Trust and Savings Bank In the bookkeeping department. After Virgil's graduation they moved to Minnesota, then back to Iowa where their second son, John was born in Des Moines on September 18, 1962.They lived in Adel, Charles City and Des Moines. In June, 1969 they moved to Texas. They made Dallas their permanent home where they raised their family and lived most of their life. Joann enjoyed a 20 year career in public school administration, retiring in 1990. But, before her professional career, she devoted all of her time, energy and love to her family. She was always ready to be involved in whatever the family needed. She was always there for her sons, providing the love, inspiration and guidance during those years when they benefit from it the most. Joann had many interesting hobbies. Knitting and quilting filled her spare moments after work for many years, often knitting as we drove on one of the many long drives with her husband. After retirement her love of music again became one of her passions. Steady practice soon brought the talent evident during her high school and college years. For twenty more years, well into her eighties, she played her saxophone regularly in her main band. She substituted in other bands when a player wasn't able to be there. She was always a favorite when she played a special selection at church. The arrival of grandchildren brought a whole new interest to her life. How they all loved her and how she loved them. She was so blessed by having them all brought up in the love of God by their loving parents, each one knowing of Him early in their life. Who could know how many of her prayers and petitions went up for each of them, day by day, through the years. Joann's great strength was her faith in God and in Jesus Christ as her savior. She was raised in a Christian home, baptized as a very small baby and confirmed as a young teenager. She attended church and Sunday School regularly all of her life from early childhood on until near the very end. During the week she found strength in reading the Bible and other Christian literature, rarely missing her "daily devotions". Certainly her departure from this earth to be in heaven with her Lord was a joyous event. Praise and thank God for her loving life on earth. Joann is survived by her husband Virgil; sons, Dean (Michele) Aukes of Sherman, Texas and John (Tracy) Aukes of Adel; grandchildren, Tiffany Leah Aukes, Matthew David Aukes (married to Lois Vargas Aukes), Angela Renee Aukes, Josiah Daniel Aukes, Benjamin John Aukes, Jonathan Paul Aukes, Aaron Joseph Aukes, Joel Nathanael Aukes, Nathaniel Connor Aukes, and Christine Grace Aukes; great-grandchild, Iliana Elise Aukes; sister, Carol Akin of Grundy Center, Iowa; sister-in-law, Lavonne (Kempton) Walbaum of Marshalltown, Iowa; brother-in-law, Wayne (Carol) Aukes of Wellsburg, Iowa and brother-in-law, Dale Aukes of Bangor/Union, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Adel. Service: 10:00 AM Monday July 28, 2014 Faith Lutheran Church Adel, Iowa Visitation: Family will receive friends one hour prior to service time Faith Lutheran Church Adel, Iowa