Joanne Adell (Hempeler) Venter, 86, went home to the Lord on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at her home in Monona. Joanne was born February 15, 1936, during a terrible winter storm to August and Melvina (Dettman) Hempeler four miles north of Garnavillo on the Guernsey Dairy Farm in Clayton County. Joanne was baptized on February 23, 1936 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Garnavillo, and attended confirmation classes there for three years, being confirmed on March 22, 1951.
Joanne attended Equity Country School through the fifth grade; then attended Garnavillo Consolidated Schools where she graduated in 1954. Upon graduation, Joanne attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa to obtain a two-year teaching certificate. In later years she attended Upper Iowa to further this to a Bachelor of Arts Degree by 1982. Joanne accepted her first teaching job of two years in Maynard, Iowa.
While at Wartburg College, Joanne met Wayne E. Venter from Oelwein, Iowa, and the two were united in marriage on June 29, 1958 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa. Officiating the ceremony was Joanne’s uncle, The Reverend Gerhard Bunge.
The couple spent one year at Carpenter, Iowa, Joanne teaching 5th and 6th combination class before they made the move to Monona, Iowa in 1959. Joanne accepted a teaching position at M-F-L Community Schools, and remained in the same school district until retirement. She taught 3rd through 8th grade (various subjects) and remedial for 33 years. She retired in 1997, although continued substitute teaching until 2008. She loved the challenge of helping Chapter 1 pupils and watching them succeed in life.
Joanne loved children and students and enjoyed being known as the “Purple Lady” sharing her love of all shades of purple, wearing them frequently, even driving a purple car. During her life, Joanne volunteered teaching Bible School and Sunday School, assisting with church newsletters, being lead usher, tutoring, giving rides, and helping friends. Some of Joanne’s loves were family, friends, children, elderly, knitting (having made over 6000 dish cloths and a few afghans), NASCAR, news, weather, ER, game shows, 500 Club, purple, and outdoors. She learned computer technology after retirement and loved keeping in touch with her grandchildren and many, many others via Facebook and e-mail. She didn’t enjoy flying but did manage to get to Scotland for her daughter’s wedding as well as several flights to Colorado to visit son and grandchildren, and even a flight to Virginia when daughter lived there. She was a trooper!
Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Venter in June 2000; parents, August and Melvina Hempeler; brother, Arlyn Hempeler; nephews, Aaron and Allen Hempeler and niece, Ardith Hempeler Anderegg; nephew, John Sprank; brother-in-law, Ardo Sprank; sister-in-law, Lena Hempeler; and brother-in-law Richard Venter.
Joanne is survived by her children, Jay Venter, Strasburg, Colorado; Jodi Cook (Charles), Dubuque, Iowa; grandchildren, Kyle Venter, Cinicinnati, Ohio; Katie Venter, Broomfield, Colorado; sister, Jeanette Sprank, Bellevue, Iowa; sister-in-law Berta Venter, Oskaloosa, Iowa; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and beloved granddoggies, Stewie and Lucy.
Joanne will be sorely missed by her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to MFL Ambulance, Faith Lutheran Church, Monona Fire Department or a charity of your choice.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 14, 2022 at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Monona, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Faith Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa with Rev. Mel Harris as the officiant.
Burial will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Garnavillo Cemetery in Garnavillo, Iowa.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.