JoAnne Teresa Schelling

I followed my guiding light in search of my wings. I told the kids I would know when I found them. The next day, I told them they had been found — white with red highlights. When all was quiet, I took flight.

Born to Joseph and Catherine Rolfes on September 4, 1937, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents and all of her sisters and their spouses. She was also preceded in death by her baby girl, Billy Lee, in December of 1957, along with two stepchildren: Diane Koboski in 2013 and Doug Schelling in 2015.

Married to Bernard L. Holderness in 1957, they later divorced; he is now deceased. Wesley E. Nelson; deceased. Donald A. Schelling: married April 22, 1983, and passed July 29, 2015.

As Mom would say, she was a jack of all trades and a master of none.

She was a truck driver, a gas station owner, and a waitress. She worked at the State Home and Training School for many years before taking early retirement — often working several jobs to support the family. Her most loved job, though, was being a mom and grandma.

In her retirement, she and Dad (Don) traveled in their RV, journeying from coast to coast. They decided to go back to work and began working in the national parks — Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, and Death Valley. They made many friends on their travels, as neither knew a stranger.

Left behind are her children: Kevin Holderness and wife, Kris, and Keely Mower; her grandchildren: David Mower with fiancée Randi, Tyler Mower, Michele Zetameyer and family, and Mary Lubinski.

We knew when Mom and Dad were traveling home because of the weather. Travel days were gray and gloomy, with arrival day always raining. We knew our mom and grandma had arrived at her final destination with a rainstorm on Saturday, followed by a rainbow.

Rest in peace, Mom. We love you.