Luann Elizabeth Harned

Luann Elizabeth Harned, 93, passed away December 27, 2024 at Kavanagh House on 56th in Des Moines, Iowa. Luann was born on October 31, 1931 in Iowa City, Iowa to Leta Elma De Brie and William Ott Stevens. She graduated from City High School in Iowa City and then attended the University of Iowa to study music. Luann then moved to Denver, Colorado with a group of girlfriends. As luck would have it, this Iowa girl would meet an Iowa boy, Ollis Hayes Harned in Denver. It was pretty much love at first sight and they were engaged within 2 weeks. Alas, the engagement was long, as Hayes served in Korea for a year in the U.S. Air Force. Luann moved back to Iowa City while Hayes was in Korea. She and Hayes were married in 1954 and moved to Shreveport, LA, Cedar Falls, IA and later to Des Moines in 1961. Luann worked for Dahl’s on Beaver as Head Cashier, and Hayes was a school teacher following his military service.

Luann was a wonderful cook and devoted member of the Lutheran Church of Hope Prayer Shawl group. She and Hayes treasured time at their lake home on Oak Island in Minnesota, she enjoyed card games, and was an avid reader. Later, Luann became a solid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Indiana Fever aka Caitlin Clark. Luann was clever, witty, and sharp to the end. She had a wonderful sense of humor to go along with her beautiful smile, cheerful demeanor and her caring and compassionate soul.

She will be greatly missed by her sister-in-law Marge Harned; her children, Jeff Harned, Bill (Carmen) Harned, and Rusty (Cathy) Harned; her grandchildren, Robert (Pam) Harned, Sara (Sam) Johnson, Chad (Jen) Harned, Travis Harned and Spencer Harned; and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Nicki, Hayes, Emerson and Faye.

Luann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ollis Hayes Harned; her brother, William John Stevens; and brothers-in-law, Lynn Harned, John Lakin, Marvin (Bud) Hirth, DeWayne Johnson, and Dave Laurie; sisters-in-law, Roberta Lakin, Jane Hirth, Darlene Johnson, and Jackie Laurie; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Harned.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. The service will be livestreamed click here.
Family will greet friends following the service at the luncheon provided by the Church. Burial will be held at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, Iowa at 2:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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