Joan Kohl
January 3, 1948 ~ October 18, 2021
Joan Kohl, 73, of Lisbon, passed away Monday, October 18, 2021, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. A Private Mass will take place at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon. Joan generously donated her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Ken; children, Michelle (Salvador) Atienza and Matt (Patricia) Kohl; grandchildren, Chiara, Catia, and Caiden Atienza and Maya, Max, and Matthias Kohl; siblings Jim (Lyn) McAndrew, Jane (Chuck) Joice, and Judy Benhart; several nieces and nephews; numerous extended family members; and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Joan Marie McAndrew was born January 3, 1948, in Davenport, Iowa, to Clem and Loretta (Hart) McAndrew. She attended Lost Nation High School, graduating in 1966. Joan earned a degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Education, and taught as a Kindergarten teacher for over 30 years at Mount Vernon Schools. She married Kenneth Kohl on June 27, 1970, in Lost Nation.
Joan was a loving wife, mom, grandma, sister, teacher, and friend. Joan's grandchildren and family were her biggest treasure. She was always there to inspire them, attend their sports and activities. Joan enjoyed going for walks with friends, cooking, and gardening. She was a devout catholic'her faith and involvement with the church meant a lot to her.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, University of Iowa Cancer Research, or a Charity of your Choice.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
We are so very sorry for the loss of your Mother
We want you to know that you have a deepest sympathy. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear of Joan’s passing. Prayers and condolences for the family.
So sorry to hear this. Mrs. Kohl was such an amazing kindergarten teacher- her kindness was passed to all her students. I still have the apple ornament that Mrs. Kohl gave us in kindergarten, in 1994. I will remember her every year that ornament goes on my tree.
I still have it too! It’s one of my favorites.
Thoughts, prayers and love to you all.
Prayers and love to your entire family.
She was a wonderful kindergarten teacher to all 3 of my children, brought an energetic spirit to welcome them into the Mt. Vernon school system. What a gift she was to our community.
Many happy memories in her kindergarten classroom. She was always a bright spot in the elementary school and helped inspire me to become an educator. Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers. Leah Goodlove
Joan was a friend and colleague to me and our fellow Washington Elementary teachers and staff. She conducted many a kindergarten circus and always greeted people with a cheery smile. We will miss her greatly. Nannette Gunn
Kenny, I am so sorry for your loss of such a beautiful woman. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Joanie was very special to many and will be missed by all. Thinking of you. Larry & Sharlyn Pardubsky
Ken, so sorry for your loss. Joan was quite the lady! Our condolences and prayers to you and your family.
“ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4” I am so very sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers. May the Peace and love of Christ be with you all. Diane (Shaffer) Grimm
Joan started my two daughters on their educational journeys in her magical kindergarten class that was full of love, fun and learning. She was a fantastic teacher and colleague who was inspirational and supportive of everyone. She was a tremendous influence on so many children and teachers in Mount Vernon.
I remember Mrs. Kohl well even though around 12,000 days have passed since I was in her Kindergarten class. I remember her grace and how cool I thought it was that she had the class over to her house around Christmas. She set the stage for the remainder of my education and, in many ways, for the remainder of my life. You’ve probably seen that saying “I learned everything I need to know in Kindergarten” and, if it’s true, I learned everything I need to know from Mrs. Kohl. She will be missed by SO MANY.
Joan was a great woman with a great smile! Always happy! Condolences and prayers!
Mrs. Kohl holds a special place in my family’s hearts. She was both my daughters’ kindergarten teacher. She also spent a lot of time in the middle school post-retirement was a bundle of energy and encouragement. She will be solely missed!
Mrs. Kohl welcomed so many children to the Mt. Vernon school system and they loved having her for a teacher! I was always amazed at how she remembered all their names many years later. Will think of her this Christmas when we hang the apple ornaments on our tree. My sympathy to all her family.
Ken, Michelle and Matt, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Joan was loved by so many and will be missed. She was a fixture in the elementary school for many years and every one on her students loved her. I remember well the many hours over the years she put in on doing the circus programs for the students. Joan was a beautiful lady. Always remember her smile with love in your heart. With my sincere sympathy, Annamae Baker
Mrs. Kohl was my kindergarten teacher in 1988. I remember her class so very fondly. She touched many lives. Praying for peace for her loved ones.
Thank you for being my Kindergarten teacher!! She made learning fun and I have wonderful memories of her class. One of my favorites was when we got to dress up to be in the circus at the end of the year. She will be missed by so many.
ATIENZA FAMILY, We are thinking of you in your time of grief. May you always remember the heartfelt moments with your loved one.
We were blessed to have Joan as a kindergarten teacher for one of our sons. Eighteen years later he is saddened to hear Mrs. Kohl has passed away. He was so proud to be the “ringmaster” in one of her many kindergarten circuses and I know he would tip his hat to Mrs. Kohl…she is the one standing in the spotlight of our hearts as the real ringmaster and “the greatest show on earth!” Our condolences to her very blessed family.
I was privileged to work with Joan for many years. Her devotion to teaching and family were obvious to all. She greeted everyone with a smile and gave students a wonderful experience. We have lost an amazing, dedicated woman. I always admired and respected her. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
How very sad we are to learn of Joan’s passing. Like many others who have posted here, we were so fortunate to have her teach both of our children with so much energy and compassion. We pass along our condolences and our prayers for peace to her family.
Our deepest sympathy to her family. She was just a few years behind me in school and her sister, Jane, graduated with my husband, Allen. Rest In Peace Joan.
I was blessed to know Joan and get to work with her for many years. Her energy was endless as was the joy she brought to any situation. I learned so much from Joan and will cherish my memories of her. My sympathy to her family. You are all so very loved.
30 years ago, we tendered our precious red headed, very active son to Joan’s care. He was quite disruptive, and Joan never gave up on him. For a time, she sent a note home every day to keep us informed on his behavior. What an effort! He is now a Postmaster in Estes Park and we owe her so much gratitude!!
Ken and Family – we are so sorry to hear about your loss. Hope you will find comfort in the love and memories your heart will always hold on to. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Larry and Sharon Ditch
My heart is with the family in this time of loss. She was an amazing teacher and woman. She was my kindergarten teacher and became my favorite teacher because she helped me overcome my sacredness starting school and it turned into a great year. She will be missed dearly.
Thinking of all of you.
Mrs. Kohl was my kindergarten teacher and I can remember the circus, the rice bins, nap time, and best of all growing up with best classmates a girl could ask for. There’s not many of us, but till this day we still rally together for each other. I think we can thank Mrs. Kohl for the start of our friendships, MV Class of 99 💖 Love Jessica (Stensland) Harrison
Joan is a first cousin. I remember her as always kind, gentle and thoughtful at our family gatherings. I am so sorry for your family’s loss of such a loving wife and mother.
With deepest sympathy,
Thoughts and Prayers all
Ken, there is no doubt Joan is with the angels where she always belonged. Mary Beth (McAndrew) Procaccini
Ken and Family- My sincere condolences at the loss of your beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister. I have so many fond memories of my many stays on the McAndrew farm in my childhood. We were all blessed with family and so many of us cousins were so close in age and had the opportunity to grow up together. I truly appreciated those opportunities to stay on the farm. I wish you all the very best as you deal with your loss.
Thanks, Jim. Joan was amazing.
I taught with Joan at Washington Elementary most of our careers. We teachers were all amazed at how she sang the Pledge of Allegiance song twice a day as though it was the one and only time she sang it! And who could forget her bunny hop gusto?! My husband and I still talk about the way she charmed our frightened little boy into having fun when he met her. She was certainly where she was intended to be. She was a blessing to all of her students. We are saddened for her loss. Pat Lehnherr
I never had the opportunity to meet Joan but Ken and I go way back to LHS (especially sports) and I am really sorry to learn of his loss. I trust you can find comfort at this very difficult time and I wish you all the best.