JoAnn Bork
January 05, 2013
The following was written by Mom for the family cookbook, published in 2007…
JoAnn, second daughter of Joe and Helen Sullivan, was born on August 15, 1937, at their home in Elma, Iowa. She contracted polio at the age of nine. With the help and love of her parents, and sister, Shirley, she was able to keep up her grades and graduate with her classmates in 1955. Growing up on a farm with her sisters taught her a love of flowers, nature, cooking, baking, sewing, and most of all, a closeness of family.
On March 2, 1957, she married Helmut G. Bork at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, Iowa. Helmut came to America from Darmstadt, Germany. They raised their three children, Joseph, Christel (Ken) Miner, and Anita (Kevin) Williams in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
After her children were born, she worked as a decorator for J.C. Penney’s. and five years later opened her own shop, “Interiors by JoAnn.” After Helmut developed health problems, she sold the business and went into real estate, allowing her more flexibility in hours. Frequent visits to the hospitals in Rochester, Minnesota. didn’t stop them from taking some wonderful family trips, especially camping and boating with the kids. Clear Lake was a favorite spot. They also traveled to the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone Park, Orlando, Florida, and Germany, to visit relatives and to see the country.
After Helmut died on November 23, 1983, JoAnn moved from Cedar Falls to Des Moines, Iowa. She worked there in decorating and flooring sales. She retired in 2006.
JoAnn still likes traveling, getting together with her sisters and friends, genealogy, her yard, flowers, cooking and baking. JoAnn enjoys her grandchildren Stephanie, Danny and Rebecca Miner, and Brian, Christopher, Michael and Ashley Williams, and her step-grandchildren, Shane (Cherise) Miner, and Travis (Kelly) Miner and their families.
Her Christian faith and belief is that those who have gone before us will watch over those who are still here.
Now, some thoughts from her children…
First, Mom was incredibly modest…she had such a vast array of talents!
Her ability to sew was incredible…from our baptismal gown, a suit for Joe when he was young, clothing during the elementary years (minus our school uniforms), homecoming outfits, bridesmaids dresses for her sisters’ wedding; and just this Christmas she had plans to make her youngest granddaughter and great-granddaughter’s doll dresses (hand surgery 4 weeks ago prevented that project from being completed…those plans are on her table right now!). And don’t show up in some ill-fitting clothes, she would kindly request you leave that item with her so she could make the alterations she deemed necessary. There was nothing Mom could not make with some fabric and an idea.
During the 60’s and 70’s Mom enjoyed using her free time oil painting beautiful landscapes. Our Grandpa and Grandma Sullivan and Oma and Opa in Germany prominently displayed her artwork in their living rooms. She enrolled her girls in art classes, attempting to tap in to our drawing/painting gifts…sadly, only one of her children inherited that gift…Anne!
Her talents led Mom into the decorating field, eventually opening her own shop, allowing her to be hands-on, taking projects from the drawing board to reality.
After she sold the business, Mom worked a number of years in real estate before obtaining her insurance licenses, which led to her move to Des Moines.
Later, Mom spent time in the mortgage industry before reentering the decorating field, focusing on flooring. Yes, she could/and would school you on all things flooring and her customers would seek her out for guidance. Just last April – she played project supervisor for Stephanie and Alex as they laid a new kitchen floor, overseeing the installation until she couldn’t stand it anymore…told them to “move aside, let me do it!” This went on until 2 in the morning…and it looks great.
In 1990, Mom purchased her home on 48th street and thus began “the home improvement project with no end.” My thought when seeing the house the first time (which was kept to myself)… “Oh NO! Did you really buy this?” But our Mom…she could see the potential and had the intellect and energy to see it through to completion, meaning she did at least 90% of the work herself, and it looked perfect!
In spite of the demands of these projects and work, Mom always put her family first! Not only us (her children) and grandchildren, but her ENTIRE family. Caring for her sisters, Myrna and Connie, in their valiant battles with cancer, was a priority for Mom. In her mind there is no such thing as a shirttail relative or distant cousin… family is family! Mom loved staying connected with her grandchildren, from their early years, school activities, sporting events, graduations and weddings. She was always there. She rarely missed a family gathering and loved sitting and talking to all.
There has been a universal response from family and friends these past difficult days…that Mom was a “Second Mom” to them, a great listener (easy to talk to), gave great advice and had a smile to light up a room.
Mom is remembered with love by her children Joseph, Christel (Ken) Miner and Anita (Kevin) Williams; grandchildren Shane (Cherise), Travis (Kelly), Stephanie, Danny (Julia) and Rebecca Miner, and Brian, Christopher, Michael and Ashley Williams; five great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Shirley Daleske, Charlene (John) Tull and Nancy (Tim) Gibbons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Helmut Bork; and her sisters, Myrna Wagner and Connie Kraninger.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2013, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2926 Beaver Avenue, with a visitation starting at 10:30 a.m., and lunch following. Burial will be Friday at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Elma, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, 800 E 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Robin Brent
02/28/2013
I am so sorry for your loss. I very much enjoyed communicating with JoAnn about our mutual enjoyment of the hunt for Sullivan relatives. She was an a special person. Robin Brent
Dzve/Carol Zobeck
01/15/2013
JoAnn's beauty was in the inside as well as the outside. She akways came around over Memorial Day and we usually had a chat. She will be missed.
Anna Sullivan, Kathy Sedlacek and families
01/13/2013
We will always have fond memories when JoAnn, Mom (Aunt Anna), and myself (Kathy), went on our genealogy "road trip" to Westphalia, IA and the surrounding area last October. JoAnn was so full of energy and excitement to get new information on our family ancestry. We will always treasure the laughter, smiles, stories and pictures we took. JoAnn was a very special and caring person and we will miss her in our lives. May the comfort of friends and family be your strength now and in the days ahead.
Rick and Pam Salaway, New York
01/11/2013
We are so sad to hear of JoAnn's passing. We were one of the living "finds" of her geneology research--relatives of her grandmother's birth family back in the New York area. JoAnn and Rick talked at length about family history via phone. She was always gracious in sharing the geneology gems that she discovered through her tireless efforts. She was so kind to us, and even sent us one of your family cookbooks! I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet in NYC and visit family places together, as we had planned to do. We know how close she was to you all, her beloved family. Our hearts are heavy for you in your loss.
James Clark
01/10/2013
I am so sorry for your loss. Your Mom and Dad were very dear to me and and all of the Elma Clark's
Mrs Jim (Sharon) Gansen
01/09/2013
Your Mom was a classmate of my husband Jim,
and she would stop and say hello whenever she was in Elma.
I am sorry for your loss and you have my deepest sympathy
Mark & Kelly Harris
01/09/2013
Joe, Anne, Christel and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely, Mark, Kelly & Taylor
Mitch Willett
01/09/2013
Joe, Christel and Anne,
You have my deepest sympathy. Although I didn't know your Mom well, what I did know was that she was a wonderful, faithful and gracious woman. I am so sorry that we must feel the pain of her leaving this life. I look forward to re-connecting with her in heaven one day.
Linda Stracke
01/09/2013
To the Family of my very best friend. You are not alone in your sorrow. Your Mother will be so missed by us all. For 23 years she and I worked side by side, taking care of business, but never missing the chance to share stories about our families. I feel like I know you all so well. I will miss the daily phone conversations where we discussed the problems of the day and she always offered her support and advise when I needed it most. I will always cherish the memories of the trip we took to San Francisco and to Branson. And the fun we had the day she went with me to bring my new puppy home. We shared many happy times as well as sorrow over the years . I feel blessed to have had her in my life and will miss her so much.
Allen & Julie Wyatt Lee
01/09/2013
Our deepest sympathies to Ann, Christel and Joe and your families, also to Shirley, Charlene & Nancy and families. Joann was a lovely lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Rich&Marge Payzant
01/09/2013
We wish to express our deepest sympathy to the entire Bork family.
Karon Toney
01/09/2013
I worked with JoAnn for a while. She was a sweet and caring woman. She will be missed by many.
Tim Newberry and Skip Shaffer and Hayden
01/08/2013
Dear Joe, Christel and Ann and family,
We were so sorry to hear about your Mom's passing. I was one of the many who thought of her as a second mother. She was a first class Mother and I will always remember her with great love and affection. Both your parents always made me feel like I was a part of your family and that always meant a great deal to me. A lot of great memories. My mother Dorothy and sister Paula also wish to express their deepest sympathy for you all.
Thinking of you....Love, Tim and family
ARLENE BARNETT)ADAMS
01/09/2013
TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF MY BE-LOVED FRIEND, JO.
I CAN'T EXPRESS THE SORROW THAT I FEEL.YOUR MOM WAS LIKE THE SISTER THAT I NEVER HAD AND LIKE SISTERS, WE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS!!
WE HAD A LOT OF LAUGHS, TEARS,GOOD TIMES AND A LOAD OF LOVE.
I WISH I COULD BE THERE FOR YOU AND TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY DEAE FRIEND.
I MISS THE WHOLE BORK CLAN AND THE "GOOD OLD DAYS"
ESPECIALLY THE 3 LITTLE BORKS. SOOO CUTE AND LOVING.
PLEASR CALL WHEN YOU CAN. WOULD TO SPEAK OF YOUR MOM AND DAD.
ALL MY LOVE,HOPES AND TEARS. ARLENE
Larry and Bizz Skiles
01/08/2013
Dear Joe and family, We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. We were so sorry to hear of her passing. May God Bless you and keep you all close as you go through this difficult time. All our love, Larry, Bizz and family