JoAnne V. Bergfeld-Lehmann, 92, of Epworth, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at River Bend Retirement Community in Cascade, Iowa.

Visitation for JoAnne will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 26, 2024 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m. and the Dyersville American Legion Auxiliary will attend in a body at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will also be held after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the Funeral Home.

Services for JoAnne will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa with Rev. Michael Schueller Presiding.  Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

She was born April 8, 1932 in Dyersville, Iowa, daughter of Jerome and Helen (Westermeier) Ernster.  She was born at the height of the Great Depression, was 9 years old at the bombing of Pearl Harbor and graduated from St. Francis Xavier School in Dyersville.  Being forged by these historical events, she had an iron will and steely determination to get things done and done right.   She was a perfectionist in everything she did, her career as a waitress during high school and jobs at Interstate Power, Ertl Toy Company and lastly at Divine Word Seminary as an office clerk, Director of Financial Aid and completed her career as Registrar.  Through the years she continued to gain new skills and hobbies.  She was an excellent seamstress, leather crafter and calligrapher.  Her greatest accomplishment was her art.  She continued her art education by correspondence classes, attending art classes at Divine Word Seminary and the Roberta Kuhn Center, continuing to improve her skills to the end of her life.  She never considered her art to be good enough.

On February 5, 1951 she was united in marriage to Charles Bergfeld at St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa.  He preceded her in death on September 7, 1994.  She was united in marriage to William “Bill” Lehmann on September 14, 2002.  He preceded her in death on October 11, 2015.

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish of Epworth, the Dyersville American Legion Auxiliary and the New Vienna VFW Auxiliary.  She was a member of several card clubs, was a Charter member of the Cup of Jo coffee club in Dubuque, and was on a golf league with her nephew, Gary Olberding.

She is survived by three children, Kathy (Terry) McDermott of Peosta, Bill Bergfeld (Anne McKinney) of Bethany Beach, DE, and Jeanne (Gary) Finder of Cantrall, IL; and an ex-daughter-in-law, Laura Bergeld of Ada, MI; seven grandchildren, Brett McDermott, Bethany McDermott, Jeremy Bergfeld, Sarah (Patrick Johnson) Bergfeld, Stacey Bergfeld, Courtney (Jeremy) Johnson, and Aaron (Allyssa) Finder; seven great grandchildren, Ainsley, Willa, Carrick, Maisie, Alina, Keira and Kai.  She is also survived by three siblings, Marjorie Olberding of Dyersville, IA, Judith Gempler of Edina, MN and Jerry Ernster of Birch Bay, WA.

She is also survived by five step-children, Robert (Anne) Lehmann of Ankeny, Susan (James) Schlichte and David Lehmann both of Farley, Nancy (John) Steffensmeier of Dyersville, and Gary (Lisa) Lehmann of Salem SC.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Mary Balsamo; and one son Kenneth Bergfeld on November 11, 1989.

A memorial fund has been established in her name and funds will be distributed to her favorite charities.

An online Video may be viewed and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and the Staff of River Bend Retirement Community for all their care and support during this difficult time.