Downey, Joan 'Joann' E.

Joan “Joann” E. Downey, 78, of Marion, was called home to God on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. She passed away peacefully at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marion at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, where a rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. and a parish vigil will begin at 7 p.m.

Joan was born on July 23, 1933, in Edgewood, Iowa, to Ralph and Olaf (Clute) Funk. She graduated from Edgewood High School in 1951, valedictorian of her class. On July 4, 1951, she married Robert J. “Bob” Downey at Saint Mark's Catholic Church in Edgewood. While Robert served in the Army National Guard for a year, they lived in Alabama at Camp Rucker. They moved to the Cedar Rapids/Marion area, where Robert returned to work and where they made a permanent home.

Joan worked with her husband in his State Farm insurance agency as secretary/office manager for 15 years, using her welcoming telephone voice, exceptional organizational skills and kind manner to support the business. With her husband's encouragement, she became a licensed Realtor. After over 20 years in real estate, she retired from Coldwell Banker in 2002. A colleague said, “If anyone needs a lift, just listen to Joan laugh.”

Joan took pride in a family she loved beyond measure. She enjoyed watching her children grow, especially in their teenage years. She loved hosting holiday dinners for her large family of children and grandchildren.

Her faith was a quiet but strong guiding force in her life. She was a great role model for her children. She was perceptive and non-judgmental in her love for others. She was smart, decisive and always operated from a plan. She had an energy, class, beauty and flair for fashion all her own. She played trumpet in high school and loved music, especially Christmas music.

She was involved in many community and volunteer opportunities over the years. She cherished volunteering at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, something she began at retirement. Prairiewoods is where she deepened her already existing interest in holistic health taking numerous courses, including reiki. She was a compassionate and talented practitioner of healing touch spiritual ministry and reiki. She did reiki for others in their homes during times of serious illness. She was an attractive loving, and caring person who will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, Robert J. “Bob” Downey; children, Kathy (Terry) of Topeka, Kan., Patricia of Fort Wayne, Ind., Teresa (Clark) of Marion, Mike (Colleen) of Charles City, Don (Marilynne) of Eagan, Minn., Kurt (Debora) of Cedar Rapids, John (Cathy) of Overland Park, Kan., and David (Wendy) of Marion; six granddaughters; 17 grandsons; two great-granddaughters; two sisters, Jeanette Rops and Judy Long; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, in Joan's name.

Please sign the online guest book for Joan at under obituaries.