Joann Gay Morlan

JoAnn Gay (Boon) Morlan, age 68, of Glidden, IA, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Glidden with Fr. Patrick Behm as Celebrant.  Lector will be Melissa Rehfeld.  Casket bearers will be Ryan Boon, Andy Haleen, Travis Turner, Jon Wilburn, Ben Young, and Dave Beyer. Honorary casket bearers will be Nick Gallagher, Tim Rose, Malakai Rehfeld, Jayden Young, Greg Marquart, Decclan Marquart, Aiden Marquart, Logan Johnson, Orian Johnson, Jacob Boon, and Elijah Rehfeld. Burial will be in Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery in Glidden.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Friday, July 19th at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden. The casket will be moved to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church at 9:30 A.M. Saturday morning where visitation will resume until 10:15 A.M. prior to the funeral.

JoAnn was born on October 19, 1955 in Boone, IA, and she was the daughter of Dutch immigrant Jacob and Shirley (VanderBroek) Boon. She grew up in Boone and graduated from High School in 1973.  She attended DMACC in Boone and earned her associate degree in liberal arts and transferred to Iowa State University and majored in speech and drama earning a bachelor’s degree in speech and theater.  JoAnn taught English and Speech in Rosalie, NE.  She was united in marriage to Joe Morlan on August 19, 1978 in Boone, IA.  The couple made their home in Lohrville and JoAnn worked as a nurse’s aide at Shady Oaks Nursing Home in Lake City.  The couple moved to Glidden in 1980 where they raised their two children Jaret and Jessica.  JoAnn worked as an activity director at the Carroll Manor Nursing Home, director of Vocational Education at New Hope Village, and as an Academic Advisor for DMACC in Carroll for 29 years.  JoAnn also worked as a speech coach for Kuemper High School for many years.  She was a member of the Carroll Community Theater and served as president, director, actor, and make-up artist.  She also served on the Glidden City Council for three years.  After retiring from Kuemper she went to UNI and earned a master’s degree in communication studies in 2005.

JoAnn is survived by her husband Joe Morlan of Glidden; her children Jaret Michael Morlan (Leah) of Iowa City, IA, and Jessica SuAnn Gallagher (Nicholas) of Westside, IA; her 4 grandchildren: Alexzandyr Gallagher and Payton Gallagher both of Westside, Tobias Morlan and Milo Morlan both of Iowa City; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Patricia Boon of Boone, IA, Wanda (Michael) Johnson of Winterset, IA, Jerry Morlan (Jane) of Manson, IA; Ilene (Tom) Young of Olathe, KS, Pattie Morlan Carlson (Carl) of Orrick, KS, Dudley Sease of Jefferson, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Shirley Boon; her brother Aalt “Andy” Gangalf Boon; her maternal grandparents Frank and Johanna VanderBroek; her paternal grandparents Aalt Gangalf and Gysbertje Boon; her mothers-in-law and father-in-law: Leonard and Theo “Becky” Morlan and Nancy Barr; sister-in-law Peggy Morlan; and her nephew Doug Rehfeld.