Josephine “JoAnn” Moffitt

A Mass of Christian Burial for Josephine “JoAnn” Moffitt, 90, of Creston, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. Father Patrick Amedeka as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Creston. Open visitation will be from 2 to 6:30 p.m. with the family to greet friends 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Creston. Visitation will be followed by a wake service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Malachy Foundation, Holy Spirit Catholic Church or Calvary Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

CLASSIFIEDS:

Heaven:

We currently are looking for an individual who possesses a long history of hard work ethic and love of the Lord.

Josephine “JoAnn” Moffitt, born April 16, 1932, submitted her application for the above position on Jan. 23, 2023.

Her resume included many attributes Heaven’s gates opened with loving arms for her acceptance.

She was born and raised in the Cromwell/Nevinville area on a farm her parents Nicholas and “Mamie” (Brownrigg) Repplinger owned and farmed. In her teen years the family moved to Creston.

JoAnn was a basketball fanatic, so every day she did the drive to Nevin High School for her 11th and 12th grade years for the sole purpose to play round ball (and, of course, an education). Her school yearbooks tell the story where, in her position as a forward, she was untouchable when scoring points. After high school graduation in 1950, JoAnn went on to receive an associate of arts degree and an elementary teachers certificate in 1952 from Creston Junior College.

On June 7, 1952, wedding bells rang, and she became betrothed to Cecil Moffitt from Lorimor. They moved to Fort Hood, Texas, for a two-year military stint. JoAnn moved back to Creston around Christmas 1953, and Cecil finished his military commitment a few days before Cyndy was born February 1954.

The two of them initially started farming and renting land west of Cromwell. They purchased 240 acres where the current farm sits south of Creston. In January 1957, a baby boy, Mike, was welcomed. Over the years, the farm expanded along with hogs and cows. In her younger years, she was out helping in the fields, doing chores, gardening, mowing a large lawn, canning, taking care of bratty children, being accountant/financial wizard and the list goes on and on for a farm wife.

In later life, when she turned retirement age, she put the brakes on to the hard work. However, you could always still see her spending time mowing the lawn with her “turn on a dime” lawnmower. Then came the easy chair, cable TV and watching her much loved sports (especially Iowa State football and basketball).

She was a lifetime member of the St. Malachy and Holy Spirit parishes. Her faith shined through her dementia. Even if she couldn’t remember many things, you would be able to hear certain words and know she was praying right up until those gates opened for her. She even talked about seeing angels.

JoAnn is survived by her two children, Cyndy Moffitt of Anchorage, Alaska and Mike (Judy) Moffitt of Kent; grandchildren, Brett (Maggie) Moffitt of Olathe, Kansas and Maddie Moffitt of Des Moines; great-grandchildren, Maxwell Moffitt and Josephine Moffitt of Olathe; many nieces and nephews across the states.

Her two sisters, Margaret Woods and Mary Rita Oberkamper preceded her in death.

Written by the family with love.