LIVESTREAM LINK FOR JOAN BALLANTYNE https://www.youtube.com/live/EjAOhPPHqJk?si=Nq_Z7muv8tVa1gqK

JOAN BALLANTYNE, 93, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday morning, February 12, 2025 at Accura Healthcare of Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa.  Pastor Jonathan Riggert will officiate.  Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa.  Visitation with the family present will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa.  Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Preschool or Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee.

Joan was born on February 8, 1932 at Aurelia, Iowa to Carl & Erma (Roggow) Stief. She graduated from Cherokee Wilson High School in 1950.

She began working in 1949 to help pay for her rent and living expenses.  Her dream at the time was to become an air stewardess when she graduated but her dreams were dashed when she found out she was too tall and a couple of pounds over the limit for airline requirements.  In 1952, she landed a job at Miller Mac Insurance and worked for them until 1964.  She was a partner and one of the 3 owners.

In 1961, Joan sold her first home on Maple Street in Cherokee for $10,000.  She sold 20-30 homes per year with the most expensive home selling for $335,000.  The lowest priced home she sold was $3,500.  She was a graduate of the Realtor Institute of Iowa in 1970. Joan was outstanding in her field, always extending her education to maintain her license and keep her skills sharp.  In 1977 and 1978, she served on the Cherokee County Realty Board and was president of the state association.  She has served on the Nation Board of Woman Realtors, where she was a speaker and enjoyed attending the conferences every year. Joan earned Woman of the year for Iowa Realtors in 1982 and Realtor of the Year of Iowa in 1983.

Joan was extremely involved in the community.  She was a choir director for 49 years.  She served on the Sioux Valley Memorial hospital board for 12 years and served on the Western Iowa Tech and the Chamber Board, where she had been a member since 1956.

She was active in politics representing the real estate in the community.  This gave her the opportunity to meet Presidents HW Bush and George W. Bush.  Other awards and honors she received were President of the Cherokee Industrial Corporation in 1986, President of Kiwanis from 2000-2001, 15 years on the Ecumenical Institute, Iowa Hall of Fame as a volunteer in 1989, Women in Excellence in 2000, United counties Board of Realtors , where she was a member from 1961 – 2015, Women's Council of Realtors President in 1981, Meritorious Service Award Realtors Federal Political Coordinator in 2011, Distinguished Service Award Nationwide in 2000,  Life Member of Political Committee in 1993, O.G. "Bill" Powell Award for Meritorious Service to the industry in 1992.

Joan was inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame in 2016. She was a member of the U.S. Bowling Congress for 26 years for National Bowling Participation in 2006.  She was named Citizen of the year for Cherokee, Iowa in 1993 and served 33 years on the Cherokee PRCA Rodeo Committee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Keith Ballantyne in 2018, and brother Maynard Stief and his wife Donna.

Joan is survived by her brother Mahlon Stief and companion Linda of Cherokee, Iowa; nephews Michael(Tonya) Stief, Pat (Deb) Stief, Mark (Kathy) Stief, Marlin (Amy) Stief, Rick Stickler, Tim (Alyssa) Stief, John (Riatta) Ballantyne and niece Tiffany (Darren) Willett; also several great nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.