Joanne Legore, 1932 – 2021

A celebration of the life of Joanne Legore, 88, will be held March 6 at First Baptist Church in Churdan.

The Rev David Arulnathan will offer words of comfort. Organist Matt Schutt will accompany congregational singing. Casket bearers will be Nathan Guess, Lucas Fatka, James Helms, Jamie Loeffler, Todd Sawyer and Jon Ayers. Interment will be at Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan.

Joanne Legore, the daughter of Lloyd and Yvonne (Briner) Toliver, was born August 1, 1932, in Greene County and passed from this life February 27, 2021 at her rural farm home near Churdan surrounded by her family. She lived a full life to the age of 88 years, 6 months and 21 days.

Joanne attended school in Churdan and graduated from Churdan High School in 1950. She then attended Cedar Falls Teachers College, received her teaching certificate and taught elementary grades and substituted in several area schools. On June 14, 1953, Joanne Toliver was united in marriage to Darrell Legore at the First Baptist Church in Churdan. Three daughters were born to this union. After their marriage, they lived in Churdan and in the fall of 1954, they moved to a farm east of Churdan and started farming and raising their daughters. When Darrell’s parents moved into Churdan in 1960, Darrell and Joanne moved to his parents’ farm where they have since made their home.

Both Joanne and Darrell were very active members of the First Baptist Church of Churdan. Joanne served on various church boards, taught Sunday school and led youth groups. She loved to read and served on the Churdan library board for more than 40 years. She enjoyed working in the yard and Darrell’s garden but was possibly best known for her quilting. Joanne was also an avid fan of all sports, particularly basketball. She attended countless games watching her daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and others play. She loved to travel, especially with her family and had visited all 50 states as well as making several international trips.

Joanne is survived by her three loving daughters, Renaye Lindgren of Churdan, Rochelle (Dr. Thomas Fagg) Guess of Jefferson and Angela (David) Fatka of Paton; grandchildren Amanda (Lindgren) Helms, Nathan Guess, Tricia (Lindgren) Loeffler, Dr. Cara (Guess) Sawyer, Lucas Fatka, and Callie (Fatka) Ayers; step-grandchildren Marissa (Sergio) Romero, Alyssa (Mak) Zachajasz, John Fagg, Stephen Fagg, Thomas Fagg, Blake Fagg and Blaine Fagg; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters Jeanne Wiederin and Janice (Charles) Paup, both of Churdan; sisters-in-law  Donna Hyland of Utah, Teena Toliver of Churdan and Lois Curtis of Jefferson; exchange student Jon (Janny) Kravetz and their children (Jacob, Rebecca, Hannah) of Boston; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved.

Those who preceded her in death are her parents, husband Darrell in July of 2018, brother Ron Toliver, son-in-law Brent Lindgren, and brothers-in-law Marty Wiederin, Charles Curtis and Phillip Hyland.

 Assisting the family was the Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson.

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