Joann Ransom

A private ceremony for immediate family will be held at a later date. May her spirit continue to live well with all of those whom lives' she touched.

Memorials may be directed to the Good Samaritan Communities of George, IA; Sanford Hospice of Sheldon, IA; or to a Christian organization of the donor's choice.

JoANN KAY RANSOM was born on January 6, 1939 to John and Grace (Aeilts) Bos in Ellsworth, Minnesota. JoAnn grew up on her parents’ farm, always busy helping in the home, canning and gardening. She also learned how to do laundry properly, including hanging the clothes on the clothesline for drying and other life lessons, notably the importance of taking care of others. She was baptized and later confirmed at Bethel Reformed Church near Ellsworth. JoAnn attended school in Ellsworth and graduated from high school in 1957. She then furthered her education by attending the Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, South Dakota to become a Registered Nurse. On February 11, 1961, JoAnn was united in marriage to George Ransom at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple first made their home in Kansas City, Missouri where JoAnn was employed at the local hospital. They later moved to Harris, Iowa and then to an acreage near Round Lake, Minnesota, before making their permanent home in Ellsworth in 1967. JoAnn worked at area hospitals before joining the staff at Parkview Manor in Ellsworth. She cared for the residents there for almost 30 years. Though she was proud of her professional career, JoAnn was most proud of her children, grandchildren and later great-grandchildren. Once grandparents, she and George were known as “Maw” and “Paw”. In her retirement years, JoAnn remained busy volunteering at Parkview Manor and made numerous pies for fundraisers. She also loved going on excursions with Paw, notably to the Black Hills in South Dakota for the Buffalo Roundup, Wall Drug, the Sand Hills of Nebraska, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, the Airforce Academy in Colorado and Grant Kohrs Ranch in Montana. Due to health issues, in September 2020, JoAnn became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society in George, Iowa, where on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, she went to be with her Lord at the age of 81 years, nine months and seven days.

JoAnn was a wonderful seamstress and sewed many clothes for her children, Barbie dolls and costumes for Halloween and Christmas. She crocheted many afghans as well and gave several of them to others as gifts. She enjoyed completing jigsaw puzzles, word searches, crossword puzzles and making Christmas candy and popcorn balls. Some of her sayings that will be remembered include, “Life is like a bowl of cherries. Sometimes all you get are the pits, but then you dump them out and start all over again.”, “Oh mother goose, shoot the pickle.”, and when asked how she was, she would reply, “Better than I deserve.” JoAnn loved her Lord and Savior and instilled this into her children’s lives.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, George of Ellsworth; three children, Jody (Brian) Daun of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Gina (Tom) Rosdail of Sidney, Nebraska, and Heidi (Tod) Hinrichs of Ellsworth; daughter-in-law, Andrea Ransom of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; ten grandchildren, Megan (Craig) Lensing, Emily Daun, McKenzie (Taylor) Kaus, Calder Rosdail, Kylie Rosdail, Tawni (Jeff) Bullerman, Tyra (Justin) Bents, Cayden (Ashley) Ransom, Lee Ransom and Nolan Ransom; five great-grandchildren, Sutton, Crew, Sage and Coyer Bullerman, and Melanie Lensing; sister, Pauline Peterson of Bozeman, Montana; and other relatives and family. She was preceded in death by her son, George Ransom, Jr.; parents, John and Grace Bos; two sisters, Evelyn Wilson and Esther Julius; and three brothers-in-law, Edger Wilson, Henry Julius and Bob Peterson.