Joan C. North

Joan Carolyn North was born May 15, 1935, the daughter of Elmer and Esther Riddle. She passed away Saturday, December 6, 2014, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of seventy-nine.
Joan was born and raised on a farm south of Dow City, Iowa. She attended the Dow City Community School and graduated Valedictorian of her class in May of 1953. She continued her education at the St. Anthony’s School of Nursing receiving her diploma in 1956. On August 19, 1956, she was united in marriage to Robert Arlo North at the United Methodist Church in Dow City. The couple made their home on farms near Vail and Dow City, Iowa, eventually buying the Riddle family farm south of Dow City. The couple was blessed with birth of four children.
Joan worked at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in the OB department, for 20 years, helping deliver over 700 babies. She also worked at the Dow City School for 25 years, being their first school nurse, retiring at the age of 55, to enjoy life, family and travel. She was a life long devoted member of the Methodist Church in Dow City. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Throughout her life she enjoyed knitting, playing cards and bingo. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling with her daughter to Hawaii, Alaska, Hong Kong, and China. Joan’s life on the farm was busy raising her family and assisting Arlo with the farm work until his death in 2007.
Joan was an icon in Dow City who helped with the restoration of the Dow House. She took great pride in her community that she loved and served. As a co-chairperson, she raised funds to purchase the first rescue unit for the Fire Department and, in 1969, she served as co-chairperson for the Dow City Centennial celebration. In 2008, she was the recipient of the prestigious Greyhound Award given for outstanding contribution to the Dow City - Arion School, Community and Alumni Association. Everyone knew her by her laugh.
She is preceded in death by her husband Arlo; three sons, Gary, David and Kenneth; one daughter-in-law, Diane; one grandson, Patrick; one step-granddaughter, Monique; two sisters, Betty and Virginia; one brother, Edmund; one sister-in-law, Olive May; two brothers-in-law: Don and Jim. She is survived by one daughter, Karen and her fianc, John; one grandson, Derek; two sisters-in-law, Arlene Birney; and Shirley; two brothers-in-law: John and his wife Angie; Glenn and his wife, Jacqueline; a host of nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.