Jackson, Joan Phyllis Lansing

Joan Phyllis Lansing Jackson, 80, of Mount Vernon, formerly of Cedar Falls, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at home with her family at her side. She was born on Jan. 6, 1931, to Albert and Anna (Baumler) Lansing in Mason City, Iowa. She married H. James “Jim” Jackson at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mason City, on June 21, 1952. He preceded her in death on August 9, 2009.

She is survived by a daughter, Ann and husband Ray Stoner of Mount Vernon; son, Thomas and wife Deb of Fort Myers, Fla.; daughter, Mary of Houston, Texas; and son, James and wife Tatiana of Cedar Falls; 13 grandchildren, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Alice, Thomas Jr., Jessica, William, Daniel, Anna, Sophia, Alexandra, Dominic and Frances; and one great-grandchild, Cole Thomas.

Also surviving are a brother, Mark and wife Linda Lansing of Dubuque; as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

Joan attended the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., for two years and transferred to Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, where she received a BA in Elementary Education in 1952. She taught school in Davenport and Mason City from 1953 to 1956. In 1957, Joan and Jim moved to Augsburg, Germany, where they both taught school.

In 1962, after five years living in Germany, Joan and Jim returned to Cedar Falls, where Joan volunteered for many years at the Sartori Memorial Hospital gift shop, served for 10 years on the Cedar Falls Library Board and in 1971 co-founded Birthright of Black Hawk County, serving in various capacities for the ensuing 30 years. Joan was a passionate and unbending advocate for the rights of the unborn and an active 40 year member of Saint Patrick Parish, Cedar Falls. For the last five years, Joan was a member of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. In retirement, Joan and her late husband Jim, enjoyed world travel and spending time with their grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant twins, James Mark and Joan Mary; infant daughter, Margaret Mary; a granddaughter, Rachel Ann Stoner; and brother, Gene Lansing.

Funeral services 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls; visitation 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, (319) 266-7525; with a 4 p.m. rosary and 7 p.m. vigil service.

Memorials may be directed to Birthright of Black Hawk County or the Rachel Ann Stoner Scholarship, Mount Mercy College.