Joanne Bailey

December 22, 1935 - February 24, 2019

Joanne Bailey, 83, of Oskaloosa, died Sunday, February 24, 2019, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. She was born December 22, 1935, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the daughter of Glenn and Pearl Partlow Billett. She graduated from Eau Claire High School with the class of 1954. Following graduation, she moved to Milwaukee and worked as a secretary. While working in Milwaukee she met Richard Bailey, in 1957 the two of them were married. To this union two daughters were born Debbie and Kim. Following their marriage, they moved to Knoxville. Once settled in Knoxville, Joanne went to work at the Courthouse. In June of 1978, she went to work as a secretary at State Auto in Des Moines. In July of 1990, Joanne returned to the courthouse in Knoxville and worked in the Auto Department until her retirement in 2004. At that time, she moved to Oskaloosa to be closer to her daughter Kim and grandchildren. In Oskaloosa she worked part-time for the Center for Independent Living for a few years. She was a member of the Jayceettes for many years. She enjoyed square dancing, and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. She also enjoyed her plants and flowers, reading, and looking for bargains at the Dollar Store. She delighted in spending time with her family especially her grandchildren. She was always eager to show her most recent family photos to visitors in her home. Her family includes her two daughters, Debbie (Steve) Marxen of the Quad Cities and Kim (Jerry) Myers of Oskaloosa; three grandchildren, Jeremiah (Tish) Smith, Heather (Kyle) Shaw, and Kyle (Erin) Marxen; five great grandchildren, Cheyenne Shaw, Gage Shaw, Isela Smith, Blake Marxen and Skyler Marxen. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Patricia Vader; her parents in law, Chester “Chet” and Ruth Bailey; and a grandson, Nathanael Marxen. As was Joanne’s wish her body has been cremated. Visitation with the family present will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel. A private family burial will be held in the Breckenridge Cemetery in Marion County at a later date. Memorials may be made to MHP Hospice Serenity House C/O MHP Foundation.