Joan Semprini

Joan Semprini, 75, of Mitchellville, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her loving family on September 25, 2009, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton. Pastor Steve Satre will officiate. Burial will be at the Dayton Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton.

Mathilda Joan Anderson was born on February 28, 1934, in Dayton, Iowa, the daughter of Edwin and Lillie (Fors) Anderson. She graduated with the Dayton High School class of 1951. She continued her education and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in 1953 and later received her BA in education from Drake University. On June 14, 1953, Joan was united in marriage to Ted Semprini at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton. Joan taught elementary school in Fort Dodge and Dayton for 32 years. For the last ten years of her life, she enjoyed working for Adventureland in human resources.

Joan was a life-long member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton where she was active in many church activities. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, attending many of their activities, and having coffee with her sisters and friends. But most importantly, Joan was the center of her family and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, Ted Semprini of Mitchellville; three sons, Jeff (Julie) of Ankeny, Joel (Carrie) of Huxley, and John (Ann) of Carroll; two daughters, Jill (Paul) Nehman, and Julie (Kevin) Neal all of Jefferson; fourteen grandchildren, Sara, Rachel, Chelsey, Michael, Matthew, Jason, Kyle, and Jenni Semprini, Nick (Lindsay), Molly, and Jonathan Nehman, Katie, Laura, and Daniel Neal; one brother, Leonard (Marilyn) Anderson of Dayton; and two sisters, Jan (Gaylord) Johnson of Panora, and Avis (Jim) Russell of Georgetown, Texas; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.