JoAnn Hanna Butcher

January 31, 1935 – May 5, 2016
JoAnn (Hanna) Butcher, 81, Thousand Oaks, Calif., passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016. Her family is holding a memorial service in her honor Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at the Christian Church of Thousand Oaks, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that a donation be made in her memory to her home town church; Salem Lutheran Church: salemlakemills.com; or her favorite charity: www.thecoalition.org.
JoAnn was born in Lake Mills on Jan. 31, 1935 to Leslie and Gertrude Hanna. As the youngest of four children, JoAnn was very close to her mother, who spoke Norwegian. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills. JoAnn attended Lake Mills High School, where she was involved in a number of activities, including being a cheerleader and playing the drums in the marching band.
Following her graduation from high school in 1953, JoAnn attended Waldorf College, Forest City. In 1956, she earned an Associates in Education degree from Waldorf, and went on to teach third grade in Clarion. It was in Clarion that JoAnn met and married her first husband, Don Gorrell, the father of her two daughters, Pat and Pam.
JoAnn and her family relocated to Thousand Oaks, Calif. She lived in the same house for 52 years and was fortunate enough to have several neighbors that moved in at the same time that became close friends; sharing the many chapters of her life.
After raising her daughters, she worked in the insurance office of Lombard Medical. She retired from Lombard after 20 plus years.
In 1979, JoAnn married Charles “Chuck” Butcher. Chuck had three children: Brad, Cathy, and Hugh. They were married for 33 years until Chuck’s passing in 2012.
Although she moved away from home after high school, JoAnn loved Lake Mills and was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She continued to attend her high school reunions and had the local paper, the Lake Mills Graphic, sent to her home for many years.
Her children and 10 grandchildren were very important to her and a source of great enjoyment. She loved spending time with them, especially during the holidays. Her first great grandchild was born in January and she found great joy in meeting him at her home Easter Sunday.
She is survived by her sister, Beverly Andersen, Lake Mills; and brother, Bob Hanna,  Selmer, Tenn.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her mother, Gertrude; father, Leslie; and brother, Emerson.