Joan M. Whitsell, age 48, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at her home in Sheldon, Iowa.
Her service will be at 10:30am Monday, October 15, 2012 at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa with Rev. David Brower ~ officiating. Burial with will be in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
Visitation will be Sunday, October 14, 2012 from 2:00 – 6:00pm with the family present from 2:00 – 4:00pm at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon. The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa is in charge of arrangements.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Joan Marie Whitsell, the daughter of James E. and Helen M. (Ables) Short was born on January 14, 1964 in Sheldon, Iowa. Joan attended school in Sheldon and graduated from Sheldon High School in 1982. She went onto attend Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana and graduated with a degree in education in 1986. On July 26, 1986, she was united in marriage to Barry Whitsell in Sheldon, Iowa where they made their home. In the fall of 1986, Joan became employed with the Sheldon Community School where she was currently a 4th grade teacher. During this time, she also worked as a consultant for Everyday Learning Mathematics. Joan passed away on October 11, 2012, at her home surrounded by her loving family, reaching the age of 48 years, 8 months and 27 days.
She was active in the ministry of First Reformed Church in Sheldon, where she sang and played piano with the Praise Team. She was also a member of TTT and the Northwest Iowa Reading Council. Joan enjoyed reading, music, singing, playing the piano, and attending her children’s school activities. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.
Joan leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Barry; and their three children; Megan, Jordan and Tanner all at home; her father, James Short and his wife, Ann of Sheldon, Iowa; three sisters and their spouses, Jean and Leonard Linn of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Janet and Luis Mora of McAllen, Texas; Jill and Jeff Ptacek of Prescott, Wisconsin; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Short and an infant sister, Julie Dee Short.
