Joan P. Lawler

Joan P. Lawler, 70, of Peosta, Iowa, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
Friends and relatives of Joan may call from 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church in Peosta, Iowa where a wake service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friends may also call after 9 a.m, Wednesday at the church. The Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa is in charge of arrangements.
A Mass of Christian burial for Joan will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at St. John the Baptist in Peosta, Iowa with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding and Rev. Richard Kuhn concelebrating. Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Centralia, Iowa.
Joan was born May 5, 1947 in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Merlin J. and Jean (Wilkinson) Connolly. She received her education from the Casey’s School through the 8th grade and graduated from Western Dubuque High School in 1965. Following graduation she worked at Xavier Hospital until going to nursing school at Eastern Iowa Community College in Davenport, Iowa where she graduated with her LPN in 1969. After graduating she returned to Xavier Hospital and worked until 1974. On December 27, 1975 She was united in marriage to William “Bill” Lawler at Holy Family Catholic Church in New Melleray (rural Peosta), Iowa. The couple farmed in the rural Peosta area. Joan was a Nurse at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, Iowa for 15 years until her retirement.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Parish in Peosta, Iowa and past president of St. John’s the Baptist Alter and Rosary Socety and served as a Eucharistic Minister. Joan was a first responder for Centralia – Peosta Fire Department for 22 years.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Lawler of Peosta, IA; five children, Jeff (Colleen) Lawler of Peosta, IA, Tim (Terri) Lawler of Dubuque, IA, Rick (Sue) Lawler of Epworth, IA, Shelly (Jeff) Wolf of Peosta, IA and Dan (Cori) Lawler of Dubuque, IA; 13 grandchildren, Dallas (Ben), Becky (Jake), Garret, Jesse (Kara), Cody (Cali), Austin, Levi, Hannah, Alex, Amya, Keyonna, Noah and Ryley; 5 great grandchildren, Colton, Nate, Caden, Reece and Tatum; three sisters, Madalyn Schilling, Doris (Ronald) McAuliffe, Marla Baumgartner all of Peosta, IA; one brother, Ronald (Linda) Connolly of Dubuque, IA.
She is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Kevin J. Lawler on November 22, 1988; and a sister-in-law, Mary Connolly; brother-in-law, James Schilling and many aunts and uncles.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com