Joanne Marie Henderson Obituary

Joanne Marie Henderson, 77, went home to Jesus on Sunday, November 13, 2022, after a recent diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. A Rosary will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, November 26 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, followed by a Memorial Mass at 9 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Booneville Cemetery in Booneville, IA. The family will receive friends at a luncheon at the church immediately following the inurnment.

Joanne was born September 19, 1945, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to George and Betty (Nelson) Gail. She was raised in Ottumwa, graduated from Walsh Catholic High School, and received a scholarship to attend nursing school and happily chose a vocation of marriage and motherhood instead. She married Dennis Henderson, the love of her life, on February 8, 1964, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ottumwa. Together they raised four children in Cedar Rapids, IA, whom they nourished in their Catholic faith as members at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Joanne and Dennis moved to Urbandale in 2004 and joined St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee.

Joanne made everything beautiful with her love of flowers, genuine interest in the people around her, and the way she lived her faith everyday.

Joanne enjoyed gardening, reading, playing piano and listening to music. She was active at St. Boniface Church where she served as a communion minister to the sick and homebound, as a first communion catechist of second graders, and as a support for veterans and their families. Joanne’s greatest passions were her husband, children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, her devotion to Mary, and the weekly fellowship of her prayer group at St. Boniface.

Joanne is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dennis, her children, Dennis M. Henderson of Cedar Rapids, IA, Brian L. (Ann) Henderson of Phoenix, AZ, Julie A. (Jeffrey) Braun of Germantown, WI, and Randall P. (Abigail) Henderson of Ankeny, IA; her 13 grandchildren, Michael (Jen) Henderson of Gilbert, AZ, Elise Henderson of Rochester Hills, MI, Zane Henderson of Cedar Rapids, IA, Max Henderson of Iowa City, IA, Parker Henderson of Dallas, TX, Hanne Henderson of Phoenix, AZ, Jack Braun of Milwaukee, WI, Sydney Braun of Milwaukee, WI, and Mabel, Evelyn, Peter, George, and Teresa Henderson, all of Ankeny, IA; one great-granddaughter, Charlie Hunnicutt of Gilbert, AZ; and her siblings, John Gail of Ottumwa, IA, Joe (Suzy) Gail of Webster City, IA, and Chris (Mark) Foss of Lakeville, MN. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law Joyce Gail.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Boniface Church for the El Salvador Mission. Online condolences will be welcomed at IlesCares.com.

Joanne’s legacy is that she showed everyone she touched to love by gently loving and to serve by serving.

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