HARPER — Joan Josephine Hammen, 78, of Harper, died suddenly Jan. 9, 2010, at Road Haven Resort in Apache Junction, Ariz.
Joan was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Washington County, Iowa, to Anton and Anna (Spevacek) Eberle. On Feb. 14, 1955, she married Justin Hammen at St. James Catholic Church in Washington, Iowa. The couple farmed and lived in the Harper area where they raised their family. After retirement they spent their winters in Apache Junction.Their favorite pastime was attending polkas and waltzes and following the Barefoot Becky Band. Joan was a member of Holy Trinity Parish-St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband: Justin of Harper; five children: Mary Jo (Mike) Schmitt of Kinross, Dave (Patty) Hammen of Harper, Pam (Bruce) Pecenka of Galesburg, Ill., Joe (Cindy) Hammen of Wayland and John (Deana) Hammen of Washington; 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a brother Frank (Elaine) Eberle of Santa Barbara, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: George, Russell, Norman and Jake and two sisters: Katheryn Enfield and Virginia Farrington.
