Joan Z. Kelly, 81 , of Larrabee, Iowa passed away on Wednesday evening, December 22, 2021 at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, Iowa.

Public memorial services will be held in Spring 2022.  The Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Joan Zerbena Kelly was born on April 21, 1940 on a farm near Paullina, Iowa, welcomed by Carl and Mae (Hinkey) Klinker and her four older siblings, Colleen, Darlene, Gaylen and Phyllis.  She attended country school located near the farm until the 8 ^th grade, then onto Paullina (town) School through half of the 11 ^th grade.  Their family then made a move from the farm to Hartley, Iowa, where she finished high school, graduating in May 1958.  Following graduation her calling was to move to Larrabee, Iowa to assist in caring for her four nephews, the children of Milroy and Colleen Magnussen.  This was on a farm East of Larrabee.  While there, she attended a 4 ^th of July picnic with the family, where she became acquainted with Richard Kelly.  They went on dates and many of them they took Milroy's four children with them, especially when they went to the drive-in movies in Cherokee.  Richard and Joan married on January 22, 1959 at the Larrabee United Methodist Church.  They moved into a home East of Larrabee for five years and then purchased a home in the town of Larrabee until 1979, when they built a house on their acreage where they presently reside.

Joan worked at Alco in the receiving department for about six years then onto becoming a preschool assistant at Bright Beginnings for several years. Joan and Richard lovingly opened their home fostering many children for 42 years. They became parents to four wonderful children, Tom, Karla, Kate, and Tasha.

She was a member of the Larrabee United Methodist Church and also the United Methodist Women's group.

Joan enjoyed being with children, family, going on very short vacations as her home was the best for her.  She loved doing crafts with her children, painting rocks, and decorating her home.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Richard; children Tom Kelly of Larrabee, Iowa; Karla (Gene) Marsh of Bondurant, Iowa, Kathleen "Kate" Ahrendsen of West Des Moines, Iowa; Tasha (Chris) Mouw of George, Iowa; grandchildren Jesse (Jen Earl) Ahrendsen of Des Moines, Iowa, Chanel (Tyler) Mansfield of Denver, Colorado, Abigail, Collin, Kade, and Chase Mouw of George, Iowa; one great-grandson Judah Mansfield; sister Phyllis Jones of Primghar, Iowa; sister-in-law Suzanne Kelly of Ames, Iowa; many foster children, and many friends and relatives.

Loved ones preceding her in death, her parents, Carl and Mae Klinker; sisters Colleen Magnussen, Darlene Langholz, brother Gaylen and Arlene Klinker; her-in-laws Oren and Helen Kelly; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Margaret and Howard Gould; brother-in-law Robert "Bob" Kelly;  sister-in-law Patricia Kelly and grandson Alec Mouw.