JoAnn (Brauns) Harrington

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of JoAnn Delight Brauns Harrington, age 93, of DeWitt, Iowa on January 15, 2025. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

JoAnn was born on April 7, 1931 in rural Louisa County. The oldest of five children, she was, as her sister Jean recalls, always their mother’s helper. This characteristic remained with her throughout her life.

Growing up, she was a student at Bayfield Country School, a member of Lake Lassie’s 4H Club and High Prairie Methodist Church, where she attended Sunday School, sang in the choir, and played the piano.

JoAnn graduated from Muscatine High School in 1949 at the top of her class. She attended college classes to get her teaching certificate and, upon completion, taught at a one-room schoolhouse where she wasn’t much older than her oldest students.                                 

JoAnn married Charles (she called him “Chuck”) Harrington at High Prairie Methodist Church on September 23, 1956. Not long after moving to the Harrington family farm north of DeWitt, she became an active leader in the DeWitt United Methodist Church. She served as the president of the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and hosted a weekly prayer group every Tuesday in her kitchen for over 25 years.

JoAnn’s priorities were “God, Others, Myself” in that order. Sharing her gifts was her calling and she said, “I have been blessed with the gift of empathy.” JoAnn believed that a day was not complete without doing one good deed for someone. In practice, this meant delivering home-baked goodies to shut-ins, coordinating blood drives, participating in the Crop Walk, writing letters to lawmakers, and countless other acts of service. While she received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her life, it was more meaningful for her to help others behind the scenes.

An activist, conservationist, gardener, musician, baker, lifelong educator and learner, caregiver, and domestic engineer, JoAnn was devoted to her family and community. Her garden was abundant, and it was said that the oven in her kitchen never cooled down.

She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Beth Harrington Scheckel of DeWitt, Ann (Chris McPartland) Harrington of Minneapolis, and Cheryl (Brian) Kinney of DeWitt; grandchildren, Emily, Bryan, and Jenna Scheckel, Claire and Max McPartland, Coleen, Nathan, Sean, and Evan Kinney; a sister, Jean Scott; nieces and nephews. Her family is comforted to know that she is at peace and is reunited with her husband in heaven.

JoAnn had a profound impact on her family and community and they are honored to celebrate her legacy.

Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 p.m Sunday, January 19, 2025, at DeWitt United Methodist Church, with visitation from 3:00 p.m. until the service time. A dessert reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com

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