Joan Mae Houser, the daughter of Isaac Oscar and Lela Iola (Putnam) Syvertsen, was born August 27, 1932, in Cass County, near Lewis, Iowa. She died March 26, 2020, at the Griswold Care Center, in Griswold, IA, at the age of 87 years, 6 months, and 30 days.
Joan graduated as valedictorian of Lewis High School in 1950. On November 26, 1950, she was united in marriage to Boyd Robinson in Lewis, IA. She worked at Sears and Roebuck and then the Griswold Care Center for a short time. On August 15, 1965, Joan and her family were involved in a car accident that killed her husband and two of her children. Joan began working for the Griswold Telephone Office. On January 11, 1967, she was united in marriage to Gerald Houser at the Griswold Untied Methodist Church. Joan retired from the Phone Company in 1995. Joan lived in Griswold until the time of her death.
Joan was a member of the Griswold United Methodist Church, the Nishna Valley Recreation Center, and the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed golfing and flowers. Joan loved spending time with her family and enjoyed playing ping pong with her great grandchildren.
Joan is preceded in death by her first husband Boyd Robinson; her children Michael Lee and Micki Sue; her parents; her sister-in-law Linda Syvertsen; and her nephew Jeff Campbell.
She is survived by her husband Gerald of Griswold, IA; her daughters, Jo Beth Reynolds and husband Jim of Griswold, IA, and Lu Ann Potter and husband Randy of Treynor, IA; her grandchildren: Jason Reynolds and wife Jennifer of Griswold, IA, Jill Rable and husband Andrew of Tempe, AZ, Joshua Reynolds and wife Mandy of Carson, IA, Kristen Bonczynski and husband Doug of Olathe, KS, and Tricia Berry and husband Courtney of Johnston, IA; her great grandchildren: James, Jacob, Jenna, Joanna, Nathan, Lucas, Griffin, Jalen, Jett, Jackson, Brady, Austin, Taylyn, Macy, and Carsyn; her brother Jim Syvertsen of Atlantic, IA; and her sister Susie Campbell and husband Larry of Lewis, IA. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
An open viewing will be held at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold on Sunday, March 29, 2020, from 1-5 PM. The family will not be present at any time. Due to CDC guidelines there cannot be more than 10 people in the funeral home at a time. Please help us abide by these guidelines.
