Joann M. Downs

JoAnn M. Downs, age 67, of Highland, IL, passed away Friday, November 26, 2021 at Barnes Jewish Hospital, in St. Louis, MO. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Mt. Carroll, IL. Visitation will take place from 10am to 11am before the service. Inurnment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Mt. Carroll. Memorials will be given to The Restore Network which is a faith based non for profit organization in Southwest Illinois that helps foster children and foster families (therestorenetwork.org). Family and friends are invited to share in JoAnn’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

JoAnn was born August 6, 1954, in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Ronald and Barbara (Geronzin) Holm. She graduated from Mt. Carroll High School with the class of 1972. She would later go on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Teikyo Marycrest University in 1994. JoAnn retired in 2018 after 25 years as a social worker for Catholic Charities of Kankakee, IL, and the Dept. of Children Family Services in Springfield, IL.

JoAnn married Rev. Robert Downs on May 10, 1992, at First Lutheran Church, Mount Carroll, where he was serving as the pastor. They celebrated 29 wonderful years together.

JoAnn was a member of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church in Maryville, IL, and was enthusiastic about her online quilting group. She loved to quilt and found great joy in the friendships she made with like-minded ladies. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading, caring for her puppy, Max, and most of all, spending time with her family. After retirement, JoAnn and Bob enjoyed traveling and RV camping.

JoAnn will be dearly missed by her husband, Robert; three children, Patrick (Kammy) Brinkmeier, of Sterling, IL, Sirena (Travis Aude) Brinkmeier, of Mt. Carroll, IL, and Joseph (Ashley Giordano) Young, of Brazil, Indiana; five grandchildren, Nathaniel, Jasmynne, Shelbi, Logan, and Bentley; sister, Tina (Jerry) Libberton, of Savanna, IL; brother, Rodney (Holly) Holm, of Driftwood, TX; and father Ronald Holm, of Mt. Carroll, IL. JoAnn is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Holm and former husband, Terry Young.