Joann Delores Gottschalk, 90, of Ottumwa, died at 5:35 a.m. Nov. 26, 2023, at Iowa Jewish Life Center in Des Moines.
She was born June 9, 1933, in Webster County, Iowa, to Richard and Ruth McMahon Coppinger. She married Dale F. Gottschalk Jan. 10, 1953, and he preceded her in death April 16, 2022.
A graduate of Manson High School, Joann had been a resident of Ottumwa since 1966 when her husband, Dale, joined Kentucky Fried Chicken. They owned KFC in Ottumwa until 1999 where Joann worked as a biscuit maker.
She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society, where she served on the RCIA and education committees and taught religious education. She was also a member of the New Century Book Club, PEO Chapter IN and the Y Doll Club.
Surviving are 11 children, DeAnn (Steven) Howard and their children, Jacob, Zachary and Logan; Randy (Janet) Gottschalk and their children, Brandi and Devon; Becky Johnston and her children, Chad and Meghann; Shari (Bill) Somers and their children, Tessa, Ellie, Trevor, Sophie, Sadie, Hunter and Emma; Dina Nightingale and her children Keenan and Connor; Lori Gottschalk and her children, Bret, Gabrielle, Sawyer, Lydeah, Madeleine, Chaepter, Allegra, Quaye and Ambler; Lisa (Wes) Turner and their children, Xinghua and Jiale; Matthew (Kimberly) Gottschalk and his children, Alida, Thade, Meara, Maddie, Adler, Brolin, Kylie, Claire, Chloe, Brittany, Brandon and Jon; Kara (Kevin) McCoy and their children, Sydney, Carmen, Henna and Myah; David Gottschalk; and Nathan (Katy) Gottschalk and their sons, Henry, Harrison, Harper and Hamilton; 22 great-grandchildren; a brother, David (Helen) Coppinger of Des Moines; two sisters, Phyllis Koester of Ft. Dodge and Maureen (Cliff) Lenz of Palmer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two granddaughters Erin Gottschalk and Malli McCoy; an infant sister, Sharon; a brother-in-law, Darrell Koester; and a nephew, Kurt Koester.
Visitation was open after 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Reece Funeral Home. A Christian Wake Service was held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by a time for family to greet friends until 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial was at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or St. Patrick Altar and Rosary Society.
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