Joanne Craft, 87, of La Porte City, died from complications of Parkinson’s and a lonely heart, Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at her home. She was born March 29, 1933 in Shellsburg, the daughter of Earl W. and Mildred M. Mussman Wilt.

She graduated from La Porte City High School in 1950 and attended Gates Business School in Waterloo. She married Duane E. Craft on October 25, 1953 at the Episcopal United Methodist Church in La Porte City; he preceded her in death by 16 days on November 23, 2020.

Through high school she worked at La Porte City movie theater and as a teller and bookkeeper at the bank. She worked many years as a secretary for Bill Wagner Law First in La Porte City before working full time on the farm beside her husband.

Joanne earned the title “Miss La Porte City” in high school. Joanne enjoyed knit club and bridge club. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in La Porte City. She loved music and was an excellent pianist. She played children’s hymns for Sunday School classes for many years.

She loved her garden, flowers, and spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids. She also loved going to community events such as music, concerts, drama performances, and plays.

She is survived by her son, Allen (Joyce) Craft of La Porte City; two daughters, Debra (Lee) Rottinghaus of Jesup and Angela (Mike) Reinert of Cedar Rapids; 13 grandchildren, Ryan (Holly Moser) Rottinghaus, Mindy (Lingheng Ye) Rottinghaus, Brianna Rottinghaus, Lucas (Cheyenne Dean) Rottinghaus, Andrea Rottinghaus, Daniel (Jennifer Gardner) Craft, Laura (Allen) Mast, Christopher (Anni) Craft, Matthew (Andrea) Reinert, Jennifer (Samuel) Renning, Amy (Benjamin) Grose, Jonathan Reinert; 14 great-grandchildren, William, Jackson, Issac, Oliver, Briar, Hinley, Willa, Finn, Aaron, Adrian, Liam, Nolan, Norah and Margaret; two sisters, Janet (Leroy) Magnuson of La Porte City, and Dolores Loane of Scroggins, TX; and one brother, Gary (Jan) Wilt of La Porte City.

Joanne is preceded in death by: her parents; husband; grandson, Benjamin Rottinghaus; and one sister, Donetta Jane Wilt Heckroth Wilson.