Joanne Schultz Collins Stewart

    Joanne Schultz Collins Stewart, 84, of McGregor, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, February 6, 2024 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

    Public visitation will be held Friday, March 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in McGregor. Services will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, McGregor on Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m., with a private family inurnment at Pleasant Grove Cemetery to follow.

    Joanne was born Feb. 7, 1939, to Earl and Maude (Pare) Schultz in Giard. “Joanie,” as her mother called her, attended elementary school in the one-room schoolhouse called Summit Hill, west of McGregor and later played guard on the girls’ basketball team for three years at Mar-Mac High, where she earned her high school diploma as a member of the tight-knit, Statler Bros. immortalized “Class of ’57.”

    In May 1961, Joanne married former husband Herb Collins. They were gifted with four children over the course of their 44-year marriage. In 2012, she married Lowell Stewart, of Harpers Ferry, and helped him raise four grandchildren on their 43-acre home in the country.

    Joanne was a hard worker and excelled in many jobs during her lifetime. She worked at the Country Manor in National, the Pink Elephant, the Country Standard, Indian Isle, Bituma Corp (now Gencor), the Prairie Diner and Truck Stop, the Riverboat Casino in Marquette and started and ran a greenhouse at 321 Main Street, McGregor. An expert gardener, Joanne earned the title of Master Gardener in her 60s. She was also an excellent cook and shared her culinary and bread-making skills with her patrons at the Village Traveler Restaurant, Meals on Wheels, and with any folks who were fortunate enough to take a seat at her table.

    A proud member of her community, Joanne was known to share her expertise in sewing, quilting, and canning with those she loved. She proudly sang alto in the Methodist church choir.  Joanne worked with a crisis hotline assisting those in need, was a member of the team that rebuilt the trails in Pikes Peak State Park and sponsored two foster children.

    Joanne was the quintessential country girl who loved gardening, fishing and fast cars. She was a great fishing partner to her husband, Lowell. She drove a Mustang convertible and loved attending NASCAR races at every level. She loved the quiet of camping as much as she liked going out dancing on the town. She wouldn’t hesitate to take your money in a game of Euchre and she would be packed in a flash to travel anywhere.

    Joanne is survived by her husband, Lowell Stewart; her children Jeni (Jeff) Westphal, Cindy (George) Falteich, Joe (Beth) Collins, and Tim (Sherrie) Collins; Lowell’s children Robyn Stewart, Courtney Stewart, Daniel (Brooke) Stewart; her grandchildren Annie (Nick) Westphal, Kyle Westphal, Jake Westphal and Nick Falteich; Lowell’s 11 grandchildren and great-grandchildren Nicole Wheable, Emily Kapinus, Steven Stewart, Lowell Stewart, Megan (Danny) Pfiffner, Lane Stewart, Sloane Stewart, Sam Stewart, George Duha, Logan Hawes, and Colton Pfiffner; former husband Herb Collins; sister-in-law Margaret Schultz, niece Sara (Kyle) Zeiser and nephew Steve (Angie) Schultz, and many, many friends.

    Joanne was preceded in death by her father, Earl, her mother, Maude, her brother, James, a baby sister who passed in infancy, and Lowell’s son, Steven Stewart.

    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joanne’s memory to the Eagles Club in Prairie du Chien.

    Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor, Iowa is assisting the family with services.