B. Joanne (Parsons) Richards

B. Joanne (Parsons) Richards, 87, of Newton died on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at Accura Healthcare of Newton East.  A funeral service will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Memorials to the Izaak Walton League or to Accura Healthcare of Newton East Activities Fund may be left at the church or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  

Joanne, the daughter of Carl B. “Hank” and Gretchen E. (Drake) Parsons, was born on February 5, 1931 in Newton.  She was a lifelong resident of Jasper County and graduated from Newton High School in 1949. Joanne was united in marriage with Robert D. “Bob” Richards on February 21, 1953 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. For many years Joanne did day care in her home.  She enjoyed bird watching, flower gardening, and embroidery.

Joanne is survived by her sons, Marty (Deb) Richards of Springfield, Ohio, Michael S. (Cindy) Richards of East Bethel, Minnesota, and Matt (Susan) Richards of Newton; grandchildren, Bob (Angie) Richards, Jim Richards (Alyssa Nelson), Dan (Diedre) Richards, Tyler (Sandra) Richards, Lance (Amanda) Richards, Lindsey (Mark) Porter, Jason (Heather) Richards, and Joseph Richards (Kelsey Johnston); her 20 great-grandchildren; brothers, Hollis D. Parsons of Jefferson City, Missouri and Norman Parsons of Hopkinton; sisters, Crystal “Chris” (Bob) Townsend of Kellogg and Bonnie (Don) Bessman of Waterloo; and her many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob in 2008; four brothers, Dale in infancy, Carl, Jr., Daryle and Lowell Parsons; and four sisters, Cheryl Parsons in infancy, Darlene Loupee, Judy Bishop, and Doris Perryman.

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