Joan Windelow, 86

Joan Windelow, 86, of Pella and formerly of Hampton, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at her home in Pella. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at the Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton. A private burial will take place in the Hampton Cemetery, Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton. 

Joan Wilhelmina Fink was born June 8, 1937, in Hampton, Iowa to John and Cecilia Fink. She grew up on the family farm just north of Hampton. Farm life can be hard and a lot of work, but it can also be a loving and fun way to live, and Joan loved it.

In high school, Joan met and fell in love with Larry Windelow, and at the tender age of 17, they were married. To this union they had four children. They started their life with the children in a small house on the shores of Beeds Lake. They outgrew the little house and moved into town and bought the historic Beed home. Joan loved filling it with treasures. She enjoyed painting and papering the old house and making it a lovely, and love filled home for her family. Many extended family gatherings occurred there. Especially at Christmas. Her brothers and sister and their families would fill the house with laughter and love.

Love was the way Joan spent her life. First of all, her love for her Lord and Savior and on down the line of her husband, children and their children and her many friends. Joan was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and so on to every person she met. She was kind to all, and always saw the good in us, and never anything bad. She was the forever optimist.

Her grandchildren called her either “Boo” grandma, or grandma “Choo” and she loved them dearly. They loved her cooking, and she enjoyed preparing dishes that she grew up eating, like the mysterious “Goofy Grapes!”

Joan was a true artist. She made her own cards and sent out hundreds every year. Family and friends were never forgotten on birthdays, anniversaries or Holidays. She sold Christmas Around the World for many years and many of these treasures were kept out year-round in her home, as was her Christmas tree and Christmas lights. She made her home warm and inviting to all. Red velvet cake, her favorite kind, was a staple at Christmas time, homemade by her and cherished by all.

In the summer time you could find her out in her garden. She loved flowers and growing fruits and vegetables for her family. But we can all agree that her favorite hobby was taking pictures! Joan took pictures of everyone and everything. You could fill a book with just her pictures of sunsets. Her family would find a camera in their face at every turn. She would cherish every single moment. She loved watching her favorite programs on tv, like Mash and Andy Griffith, and many, many movies. She passed down her love of movies to her children and grands. You could always catch them quoting movie lines to each other.

Her passing has been a shock to us all, but we are comforted knowing she is singing in the heavenly choir, standing by her mom and dad, and of course her beloved Larry.

She is survived by; son Tim, wife Teresa Windelow of Iowa Falls, daughters, Teri Windelow and friend Greg Smith of Grand Junction, CO, Tami and husband Greg Naber of Hamilton, IL and Traci Windelow of Pella. Grandchildren; Tammy and (Kelvin) Vankooten, Nikki Nelson and friend Chad, Josh and (Kim) Nelson. Erin and (John) Reeves, Jesse and (Melissa) Hayes, Mattie and (Dan) Schrum, Nathan Windelow, Leah and (Tyler) Johnson, Alicia Vanderhart and Victoria Windelow. Great grandchildren; A.J. Caldwell, Eiley Nelson, Payne Nelson, Bailey Reeves, Violet Reeves, Dane Reeves, Isabella Hayes, James Sargeant, Sebastian Hayes, Kamden Windelow, Macy Windelow, Emmy Windelow. Siblings; Dosie Kirkham, sister-in-law Beth Fink, Dean and (Judy) Fink. Many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceded in death; by her husband Larry, her parents, brother Don and brother-in-law Dan, and Sisters-in-law Joanne Orchard and Patti Kallas

Her greatest gift was her compassion and love for everyone, her light will shine forever.