Thornton, Joni L.

Joni L. Thornton, our beloved mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt: began her eternal life's journey on Thursday, June 20, 2013.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, Romaine Thornton; son, John (Melanie) Gibson; daughter, Dayna (Tom) Harrington; her precious granddaughter, Kylee Harrington; her sister, Mary (Clark) McLeod; brother, Alan (Delores) Lyon; her niece, Holly (John) Gilliland and their four children; her nephew, Aaron (Tracy) McLeod; and her nieces, Alisa (Scott) Miller, Dawn Spencer and her three boys and Christina (Chris) Shelly and their two children. Even though she did not have the ability to see her nieces and nephew often, she always kept them and their children close to her heart.

Joan Louise Lyon was born Oct. 1, 1944, to John and Vivian Lyon in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Marion High School in 1962. She was a cheerleader, an active member of the Glee & Mixed Chorus Clubs, on the yearbook committee, a talented writer who was published in the school newspaper and appropriately enough, a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.

For several years, Joni worked in the insurance industry but found her true talent to be in business consulting. In 1998, she established the Women's Business Center of Iowa with the goal of helping other women succeed in owning and expanding their own businesses. A few years later, her company became known as the Business Center of Iowa, helping both men and women. In 2002, Joni organized Women Entrepreneurs. This organization was created to help women business owners share their ideas and support one another in their endeavors.

Over the course of Joni's business consulting career, she generated several million dollars in loans which along with her expertise, guidance and coaching, helped start close to 300 new businesses and created hundreds of jobs. Over the years, she received many awards and acknowledgments for her work but it was the smiles, friendships and success of her clients that she found most rewarding.

Joni will be remembered for her love of family and friends, her laughter and smile, her natural beauty and huge heart, her generosity toward loved ones and strangers, her gourmet cooking and baking and her tender love for animals.

A private family burial will take place.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, please do a good deed on Joni's behalf like she did for so many others.

Published in The Gazette June 21, 2013.