JoAnn (Joanie) Chadima Bailey, 75, of Wahpeton, Iowa passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024 at her home on Lake Okoboji, surrounded by her loving family, following a long and courageous battle with dementia.
JoAnn Irene (Chadima) Bailey was born in Cedar Rapids on February 12, 1949 to Wayne and Barbara Chadima. Joanie was raised in Iowa City, along with younger siblings, Kathy and John, in a loving home. She graduated from City High School in 1967 and from the University of Iowa with a BA in English education and literature in 1971. On August 29, 1970, Joanie married George Bryan Bailey in St. Mary’s Church in Iowa City.
Joanie taught school and worked in publishing in Texas, California, and Utah before becoming a fulltime stay-at-home mom. With the birth of their two sons, Chad and Jonathan, in 1977 and 1979, Joanie settled into a fulfilling life raising two active boys and providing her family a loving home in Brandon, South Dakota and Okoboji, Iowa. Joanie loved being a mom, and she gave tirelessly of herself in support of her boys’ many activities and interests, whether it be scouting, sports, school, or church. In 2002, Joanie and Bryan purchased the Curves for Women franchise in Spirit Lake where Joanie’s enthusiasm, compassion, and empathy allowed her to help a lot of women feel so much better about themselves. In 2005, Joanie was recognized by Upper Des Moines Opportunity as an Outstanding Community Service Volunteer for her efforts in addressing hunger in Dickinson County by way of the literally tons of food Joanie and her members contributed through the Curves annual food drives.
Joanie also loved being a grandma, and she and Bryan travelled countless times to Minnesota and North Carolina to spend as much time as possible hanging out with their grandkids. Joanie especially loved watching their games, meets, plays, concerts, and recitals, and she really enjoyed baking cookies with the girls and playing catch with the boys. But what she loved most was when they came to visit Grandma and Grandpa at the Lake where there was “Bailey Hall...A Dormitory Like No Other,” with a stuffed toy doggie for each grandchild: Bella, Buster, Barney, Bonnie, and Bixby. Also, there was Grandma’s kitchen, where no mess was too big. Joanie loved being a mom, but perhaps even more, she loved being Grandma Bailey.
Joanie also really enjoyed travelling with Bryan, and they travelled the globe together. She especially loved their trips to Paris, Rome, Prague, and Australia, but her favorite travel destination of all was Hawaii. Over the years, they spent countless fun and romantic times together during many trips that took them to all the Islands of Hawaii. Joanie’s last trip to Hawaii was with her entire family during New Years, 2016. She had just recently been diagnosed with the dementia that ultimately would take her life, but she had a truly good time on that trip, and she created endearing memories for each one of her family that will last forever. Over the next three years, she would make trips to visit her kids and grandkids, but each one became a little more challenging for her. By the end of 2019, and especially with the onset of COVID, Joanie stayed pretty close to home. She was buoyed by visits from her family, and she battled her devastating disease with incredible determination and courage, but ultimately, she would lose that battle. The greatest blessing of all, perhaps, was that she was able to make her long and difficult journey entirely at home, with Bryan constantly by her side, and with the abiding love and support of all her family.
Joanie cared about others with a sincere sense of compassion, and she loved her family deeply, as she was deeply loved by them. Joanie truly was a sweetheart, if ever there was one, and she will be missed so very much by her family and friends, especially by her adoring husband, Bryan; her son Chad and his partner, Dana; her son Jonathan and her daughter-in-law, Angela; and her grandchildren Ella, Ethan, Makayla, Colin, and Parker. Joanie was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Barbara Chadima; her parents-in-law, Ray and Maxine Bailey; her brother and sister, John and Kathy Chadima, and her brother-in-law, Theron Bailey.
A funeral service for Joanie was held on May 20, in Milford, Iowa with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. The family requests that memorials be given to Upper Des Moines Opportunity of Dickinson County or the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa.
Turner Jenness Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Posted online on June 03, 2024
Published in Press Citizen
