Joann Barbero

JoAnn Margaret Barbero, 76, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Friday, September 8, 2017, at home following a courageous battle with angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma.

She was born July 25, 1941, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Magdalene “Margaret” (Sosnowski) Wersching, Jr. She graduated from St. Louis Academy for Girls, Roseland, IL, with the class of 1959. JoAnn was united in marriage to Roger Barbero on August 6, 1960, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chicago, IL.

JoAnn and Roger lived in the Chicago area until moving to the Cleveland suburb of University Heights, OH, in 1971 and Atlantic, IA, in 1980. She never missed the city after getting a taste of small town life. JoAnn worked as a homemaker raising their four daughters. She volunteered several years with the American Cancer Society’s Festival of Trees and the T-Fred Memorial Golf Tournament. JoAnn was a talented seamstress making many of their daughters’ dresses and costumes in their younger days, and Christmas stockings for everyone as their family grew. She also enjoyed country dancing, crocheting, gardening, and was an avid reader. JoAnn was fortunate to travel throughout the United States, noting Ogunquit, ME, as a favorite stop. She was devoted to their family and looked forward to meeting a new great-grandchild, Baby Sonntag, in January 2018. She will be remembered for her Chex mix, countless Christmas cookies, and personal library.

She is survived by her husband, Roger; daughters, Deanna (Don) Gammell, Christine Nelson, Melanie (Darrin) Petty, and Caryn (Kevin) Just; her grandchildren, Adam Nelson (Teresa Muller), Kate Hepler, Laena (Austin) Sonntag, Hannah Just, Madeline Nelson (Matt Gearheart), and Grant Petty; her great-grandchildren, McKenna Nelson, Abby Muller, Jack Muller, Jaxon Hepler, and Holland Hepler, all of Atlantic, IA; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Wersching and Irene (Arnie) Brothers; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

JoAnn was welcomed to heaven by her parents, Joseph and Margaret Wersching, Jr.; parents-in-law, Warren and Margaret (Toth) Barbero; grandson, Trevor Frederickson; brother, Allen Wersching; sisters-in-law, Doris (Harold) Seeman and Carol Anderson; nieces, Tracy Seeman, Melissa Brothers, and Michelle Brothers; and nephew, Matthew Brothers.

In lieu of flowers, it was JoAnn’s wish memorials be made to the family to donate to some of her favorite organizations on her behalf.

Visitation with family will begin at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2017, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m.

A private family burial will be held at a later date at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA.

A luncheon will be held at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Parish Center following the mass.