JoAnn Mae Meeks

JoAnn Mae Meeks (Witt) was born September 19, 1936, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the only child of Joseph and Helen Witt. She passed away on Monday June 8th, 2026, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center after suffering a traumatic fall. She was 89 years old.

As a child, she lived with her parents on a farm in Hedrick, Iowa. She was full of pep and energy and entered kindergarten at the age of 4.
She developed a love for music at an early age and learned to play the piano, clarinet and, later, the accordion which she continued to play in her adult years.

Growing up on a farm, she learned independence early. Evening chores would often run late - so even as a child, she learned to make herself dinner – usually a fried egg sandwich - then put herself to bed. Even in her later years, she never grew tired of fried egg sandwiches!

JoAnn graduated from Hedrick High School in 1953, at the age of 16. After graduation she met her future husband and the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Meeks.

Bob and JoAnn were married March 7, 1954, and were lifelong partners, soulmates and friends. They raised two daughters, Reylon and Danielle, and never wavered in their love and commitment to their family. Together they instilled in their family the values of hard work, integrity, loyalty and commitment.

Through their 66 years of marriage, Bob and JoAnn shared a lifetime of memories and funny stories – starting early on with a fire under the church steps on the day of their wedding! They did everything together and it was truly unusual to see one without the other!

JoAnn loved having her family and friends around her and took great pleasure in entertaining and cooking. They would frequently enjoy evenings playing cards and eating dinner with friends. They were even known to host the occasional luau and pig roast in their backyard!

Bob and JoAnn loved to garden, and they both found pleasure in having a yard full of colorful flowers and a garden full of produce. Joann enjoyed canning vegetables and making pies, jellies and other goodies from the fruits of their labor.

Bob and JoAnn retired early, both in their 50’s, so they could live their life to the fullest. They loved to travel and had visited all 50 states and several European countries. They preferred driving over flying so there were many road trips through the years – including many in earlier years in the family station wagon!

In their later years they enjoyed the “snowbird” life and would travel to Florida and Texas in the winter months. They loved the tranquility of the beach and Destin, Florida became an annual favorite. They would then travel to central Florida to spend time with their grandchildren. Much fun was had playing Scrabble, assembling puzzles and watching the grandkids play baseball and soccer.

Joann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob, and her parents Joseph and Helen Witt.

Bob passed away in 2020, leaving an immeasurable void in JoAnn’s life. Their family takes comfort in knowing that they are now reunited in eternal life.

Those left to cherish JoAnn’s memory include her daughters, Reylon Meeks and Danielle (Ned) Clymer; her grandchildren, Clint and Colby Clymer; great-grandson, Braylen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We will celebrate JoAnn’s life at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines - Visitation will be from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, and a Celebration of Life will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18. Graveside Services and burial will follow at Rising Sun Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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