Marshall, M. JoAnn McGuire

M. JoAnn McGuire Marshall, 84, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully and with grace, on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Christopher Podhajsky will officiate.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mabel and Francis McGuire; and a younger sister, Patricia Sue “Patsy” McGuire.

Her mother was born in Winthrop, Iowa; her father in nearby Monti, Iowa.

Survivors include her 13 children and 17 grandchildren. Eight sons: Greg and Pat (Kim) of Cedar Rapids, Doug of Cedar Falls, Richard J. “Chip” Jr. (Nora) of Glenview, Ill., Dave (Jane) of Woodridge, Ill., Tom, Chicago, Mark (Suzanne) of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Steve (Colleen) of Mount Pleasant, S.C. Five daughters: Barb Reinhart (Neil) of Atkins, Kerry (Jim “J.T.”) Thomas of Anamosa, Mary and Susie of Cedar Rapids, and Julie McElvogue (Greg) of La Grange, Ill. Seventeen grandchildren: Matthew Reinhart (Shawn), David and Dan Marshall, Joe and Mallory Marshall, Ryan, Colin, Morgan and Brendan Marshall, Andrew Wagner, Connor, Reilly Grace and Kevin Marshall, Maddie and Marshall McElvogue, Grace and Bridget Marshall.

JoAnn was born on May 18, 1928. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic High School in 1946. JoAnn was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church. She married Richard J. “Dick” Marshall Sr., on Sept. 6, 1948. He died in 1992.

Prior to her marriage, she was employed as a teenager at Newman's department store as a jewelry clerk and later at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator, where she delighted in connecting servicemen with their families during World War II.

In addition to her full-time job of raising her family, JoAnn worked at The Gazette off and on for more than 15 years, before retiring in 1993. She served as a proofreader and was also known around town for her “JoAnn's City Briefs” column that ran in the classified section of the newspaper.

JoAnn was a patron of the arts and supported the local arts community. She loved attending Coe College Forum programs and any event held at Brucemore. JoAnn was a talented pianist and water color artist.

Her greatest joy after retiring was volunteering at Immaculate Conception Church. She especially enjoyed working in her flower garden and kitchen.

The family wants to extend their sincere thanks to Drs. Janda, Amin, Clark and Aucutt, nurses, medical staff and Palliative care at both Mercy and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics who cared for JoAnn.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 2, 2012.