Joanne Ruth Dass

1934 - 2024

Joanne Ruth Dass

April 6, 1934 - November 21, 2024

Joanne Ruth (nee Gross) Dass, age 90, of Mason City, Iowa and formerly of Ackley, Iowa passed away Thursday November 21, 2024, at the Good Shepard Health Center in Mason City, Iowa. Joanne Ruth Gross was born April 6, 1934, to Charles Edward Gross, Jr and Ellen (nee Oelmann) Gross. Joanne worked at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator for two years after which she was united in marriage to Darrell Dass on August 20, 1955, at East Friesland Presbyterian Church, the country church that her grandfather Anton Oelmann was integral in the founding.

Darrell and Joanne farmed for 50 years near Faulkner, Iowa. She was an exceptional farm wife, canning, freezing, butchering chickens, cooking wonderful meals and gardening. She was an accomplished seamstress and she taught herself to quilt and made many superb pieces. In order to supplement farming income, Joanne became a top-selling Mary-Kay Cosmetics representative, twice earning the top sales prize for the use of a pink Cadillac for a year.

Joanne was Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher and later she and her husband Darrell were youth group leaders at East Friesland Church.

They retired to Mason City, Iowa to be near to daughter Jan Dass Seeck and family and closer to Allison Dass Sathoff and her family in Mankato Mn.

They enjoyed trading antiques at major shows until Darrell passed away in 2018. Joanne soon after moved into the Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living in Mason City where she lived for nearly 7 years until shortly before her death. Daughter Jan Seeck was the primary care giver for both Darrell and Joanne through many health difficulties.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Lori Dass McAndrews (Neil), Allison Dass Sathoff (Ed), and Jan Dass Seeck (Jim) and 6 grandchildren, Stephen and Kathryn McAndrews, Andrew (Holly)and Michael Sathoff, and Gannon and Carly Seeck.

The family is very grateful for the dedicated and professional caregivers at Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living, MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center and Good Shepard Care Center where later Joanne received hospice services. It was a great comfort to us that she received such good care.

Private family services will be held at a later date, Woodley Funeral Home, of Iowa Falls is caring for Joanne and her family.