Neff, JoAnne Ruth

JoAnne Ruth Neff, 76, of Mount Vernon, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at Living Center West, Cedar Rapids, from a lengthy illness. The funeral service for JoAnne will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices, Mount Vernon. The family will greet friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery.

Surviving JoAnne are her husband, John; their children, Barbara Aguirre and Joseph Neff, both of Mount Vernon, and Charles “Bill” (Chriss) Neff of Cedar Rapids; a grandson, Francisco (Megan) Aguirre; two great-grandchildren, Serrenitee and Gavin Aguirre; a sister, Mary Jo (Dan) Brebner; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding JoAnne in death were her parents.

JoAnne was born Feb. 12, 1936, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Joseph J. and Isabel M. Brokel Nikodim. The family moved from Cedar Rapids to Mount Vernon when JoAnne was in 4th grade and where she graduated from high school in 1954. In the 9th grade she met and started dating the love of her life, John Neff. The couple married Dec. 30, 1955, in Cedar Rapids. JoAnne was the first woman on the Mount Vernon City Council and she was involved with the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library where she taught china painting.

She loved watching sunsets with her husband from the window of their home.

Online condolences: www.morganfuneralchoices.com

Published Jan. 6, 2013 in The Gazette