Joanne Ferris

Joanne Ferris, age 71, of Savanna, Illinois, died Monday, March 10, 2008 at Bluff Terrace Nursing Home, Clinton, Iowa. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll, Illinois with Deacon Ray Hilgendorf, Mercy Medical Center Chaplain officiating. Burial will be in Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna, Illinois. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll.

Joanne was born on November 12, 1936, the daughter of Loran and Helen (Jones) Winkel in Clinton, Iowa. Joanne graduated from Clinton High School, Class of 1954. She married Elmer “Gene” Ferris on March 23, 1958, in Clinton, Iowa.

Joanne worked as the receptionist for Dr. Simmons and Dr. Butler Optometric Center in Savanna for many years. She was a member of the Methodist Faith and the Navy Wife’s Club. Joanne was an avid Timberlake Playhouse patron. She enjoyed watching ice-skating and movies. Most of all Joanne enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Joanne will be dearly missed by her husband, Elmer “Gene” Ferris of Bluff Terrace Nursing Home, Clinton, Iowa; a son, Mark Ferris of Chadwick, Illinois; a daughter, Terry (Arlyn) Dykema of Chadwick, Illinois; three grandchildren; a brother, Richard (Nancy) Winkel of Clinton, Iowa; two sisters, Vicki (Kenneth) White of Clinton, Iowa and Debbie (Ronald) Ponstler of Davenport, Iowa; an aunt, Marney Malone of Camanche, Iowa; and sister-in-law Cindy Winkel of Davenport, Iowa.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, Joshua Dykema; one great grandson, James Michael Weires; one brother, Thomas Winkel and an aunt, Delores Winkel.