JoAnne Asher

May 10, 1939 - June 26, 2019

JoAnne Asher, age 80, of Beacon, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, while in the care of Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born on Wednesday, May 10, 1939 in Keokuk County, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Verna Ferns Pence. JoAnne grew up in the What Cheer and Oskaloosa area. She went to country school before coming to grade school in Oskaloosa and later attended the Oskaloosa High School. On November 14, 1959, JoAnne and Gerald “Jerry” Asher were married in Kirksville, Missouri. They were blessed with four children, Larry, Sally, Lori, and Nancy. Over the years JoAnne worked at the Overall Factory, Deans, KFC, Kmart, and Happy Joes before retiring. JoAnne enjoyed reading, watching people, watching John Wayne movies, spending time with her family, listening to gospel music at the What Cheer Opera House, cooking, baking, and attending and serving the New Hope Free Methodist Church. She enjoyed watching her birds and seeing her field of flowers from the kitchen. She was always giving and thinking of others before herself. Her family includes her husband, Jerry Asher of Beacon; her children; Larry Asher of Oskaloosa, Sally (Dave) Lyle of Rose Hill, Lori (Roy) Chamra of Rose Hill, and Nancy Asher of Kirksville, Missouri. JoAnne had six grandchildren, Jerry (Beth) Asher, Bobby Asher, and Tony Asher of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Jodi (Andrew) Flaherty of DeForest, Wisconsin, Abby (Kent) Peterson of Dayton, Iowa, and Andrew (Rose) Chamra of Rose Hill, Iowa. JoAnne enjoyed nine great grandchildren. JoAnne is survived by her sister Gladys Barainca of Oskaloosa, and brother Loren Ferns of Freeport, Illinois, and sister-in-law, Donna Ferns of What Cheer, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Shirley Allison, and brothers Ronald and Gary Ferns. Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating. Burial will be at the Wymore Cemetery in rural Rose Hill following the services. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Bates Funeral Chapel and family will be present from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to greet relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Hope Free Methodist Church Outreach Fund.