Margaret Joann Baldwin was born May 23, 1935, at the home of her grandmother in Yorktown, Iowa. Her parents were Alton and Louise (Eichhorst) Forbes.
Joann was baptized May 25, 1935, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorktown and also was confirmed there in April 1949. She started school at Page Center, Iowa and completed grade school in Yorktown. She attended High School at Amity High in College Springs, Iowa. She was awarded the Page County Citizenship Award upon graduation in1953. Joann continued her education at Commercial Extension School of Commerce in Omaha and began working at Schmoller-Mueller Piano Company in Omaha. Following employment there she worked for the Federal Land Bank in Omaha as a veri-typist in the farm loan department.
In May 1958, she married Donald Baldwin of Omaha at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorktown. In January 1959 they moved to Falls City where Donald was employed by Commodore Corporation making furniture and mattresses for mobile homes.
They had two children, James Daniel, and Sharon Louise. Joann was a homemaker while the children were young, then became employed by First Christian Church as a part-time secretary for 15 years, and also secretary for Christ Lutheran Church for many years. She became a partner in the family upholstery business. Don and Joann spent a lot of time gardening, giving away and selling home-grown produce. They became involved in the local Farmer’s Market for about six years. Many charitable hours were spent with community projects for Aid Association for Lutherans, Lutheran Brotherhood and Thrivent Financial over the years.
Joann was also involved in many activities at Christ Lutheran Church, being a VBS coordinator and teacher and a Sunday School/Christian Education teacher. She was a member of Christ Lutheran LWML, as president of the Ladies Aid Society, and member of the Missionary Circle; past member of the Altar Guild and involved with the Care and Share Evangelism group. Joann was a member and past president of South School PTA. She and Don were custodians at the church for over 49 years.
Joann is preceded in death by her parents, aunts, uncles, and sisters-in-law and cousins.
Joann is survived by her husband, Donald, two children, James (Katie) Baldwin, Omaha, Sharon (Rob) Hull, Milford, Nebraska, Four grandchildren, Debra (Sean) Thiemann of Herman, NE, and Jennifer (Joe) Loukota, Lincoln, Christopher (Jenny) Hull, Wahoo, Nebraska; and Alex (Hilary) Hull, Grand Island, Nebraska; Eight great-grandchildren, many cousins and friends.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 10:30 AM at Christ Lutheran Church with Reverend Daniel Gifford officiating assisted by Pastor Steven Stork. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 7-8:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.
