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Joan A. Hayes
JOAN A. HAYES
Cedar Rapids
Joan A. Hayes, 80, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Oct. 24, 2017. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark Reasoner officiating. Her family will greet friends one hour before the service at the church, and invite all to a luncheon at St. Jude following the service and burial.
Survivors include three daughters, Janet (Jeff) Libe, Susie (Joe) House and Karen (Aidda) Phomvisay; six grandchildren, Richard (Robyn), Brandon, Rachel, Alicia, Ella and Anna; two great-grandchildren, Maeve and Michael; brother, Bob (Paige) Wharram; and niece, Julieann Beddow. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents, Robert and Ardes Wharram; and her sister, Gayle Beddow.
Joan was born May 17, 1937, in Oelwein, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm near Stanley, Iowa, graduated from Stanley High School, attended Luther College and graduated from the University of Iowa. Joan married John Hayes on May 13, 1961, at All Saints Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. She worked at Collins Radio Publications, KCRG-TV and Radio, took care of her daughters at home for many years and then found her true vocation as the librarian at St. Jude Elementary School until her retirement in 1995. Joan's lifelong love of music led her to be a member of her high school and college choirs and bands, church choir at St. Jude, Cedar Rhapsody Sweet Adelines chorus and the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale.
Joan was a generous donor to numerous organizations, including Hearts for Haiti, Iowa Public Television, Habitat for Humanity, St. Joseph's Indian School, UNICEF, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, American Heart Association and National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice in her name. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
Joan was the center of her family and will continue to be a model of strength, courage and kindness to her daughters and all those whose lives she touched.
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