(1934-2025)

Des Moines, Iowa, was the birthplace and childhood home of Joanne Marie Wimmer, who came into the world at Mercy Hospital there on October 15, 1934. She was the oldest child of James and Alice (Malone) Wimmer, arriving four years before James Michael and twelve years before Susan Kay.

James was a native of Tekameh, Nebraska, while Alice was from Des Moines. At the time Joanne was born, James was working as a barber; later, he became a mail carrier and, at least by the time Joanne entered the Congregation, Alice worked for the telephone company as a clerk.

“My childhood memories are defined by the places we lived,” Sister Joanne said in her life story. Until she was five years old, the family lived on an acre of land south of the Des Moines airport, and “I had much attention there, including my own playhouse.” When it was time for her to go to school, however, Alice decided that they should move to a place where she could send Joanne to school with neighbors. “The country roads seemed too much for her child!” Sister Joanne said.

And so, they moved into town to a home within walking distance of Holy Trinity School, where Joanne attended kindergarten (and got chicken pox, which she shared with her brother). But the house was expensive to heat, and before the next winter, the family moved again, this time to an apartment within a house. Because the basement steps came up into their kitchen, they were responsible for keeping the furnace running in the winter months – a fact which was to become the reason they moved again in a couple years’ time.

Read more about Sister Joanne (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Joanne's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Joanne's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Leave your comments and remembrances – if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link.