A Gathering of Friends for Joanne I. Wohlert, age 85 of O'Neill, NE formerly of Spirit Lake, IA will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 5 to 7 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in O'Neill.  Memorials may be given to the family for future designation.  Joanne passed away on Monday, December 17, 2018, at Parkside Manor in Stuart, NE. Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Joanne Irene (Shriner) Wohlert was born on July 9, 1933 in Moneta, Iowa to Harold and Lola (Barnes) Shriner.  She was the fifth of six children.

On March 7, 1950 she married Delbert Herman Wohlert in Calumet, Iowa.  The day was blessed by a blizzard that forced the newlyweds to spend their wedding night in the church basement.

To this union three children were born.  Larry Delbert in 1950, Terri Joanne in 1952 and Kelly Lee in 1954.  The family lived in the Sutherland, Iowa area until moving to Orleans, Iowa in the fall of 1967.

In her early career, Joanne worked at the local hospital in Spirit Lake, Iowa.  In early 1974, she began working with her husband for Young Love Construction of Sioux City, Iowa doing concrete elevator construction.  Their work took them many places together allowing them the opportunity to meet and make life-long friends.

Upon retiring from Young Love Construction in early 1991, they returned to Orleans, Iowa where Joanne went to work providing home health care to many patients who she grew to have great friendships with.  Joanne retired one last time in 1999.

In the fall of 2009, she moved to O'Neill, Nebraska to be closer to family.  She lived on main street and was known by many as the "Lady with the decorated tree stump".

In September, she moved to Parkside Manor in Stuart and spent the rest of her days there reading, doing crosswords, and telling stories to the many staff that became like family.

Joanne was a lifetime member of the Spirit Lake Women's VFW Auxiliary.

She is survived by her sons; Larry Wohlert of Bristow, NE and Kelly Wohlert and wife Cyndi of O'Neill, NE; 8 grandchildren, Chad Wohlert and wife Jessica of Bishop, GA, Shannon Pierce and wife Heather of Newport News, VA, Cressi McClellan of O'Neill, NE, Jason Hawk and wife Bonnie of Nacogdoches, TX, Kristopher Wohlert and wife Rebecca of O'Neill, NE, Jess Hawk and wife Lisa of Wyndom, MN, Joel Hawk and wife Kelli of Nacogdoches, TX and Mitchell Newbiggin and wife Mellinda of Nacogdoches, TX; 10 great grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; brother, Leon Shriner; sisters-in-law, Joyce Shriner and Donna Sauter; Brothers-in-law, Donald Wohlert and wife Delores and Jack Muhs and wife Darlene.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Delbert; daughter Terri; 2 sisters, Althea (Myron) Johnson and Lela Mae (Mel) Hughes; 2 brothers, Edwin Shriner, and Donovan Shriner; brothers-in-law, Dan Wohlert and Fred Sauter; sister in law, Millie Shriner.