Joann Randolph

Joann Mae Randolph Remembered by Her Children As you live and grow priorities change, but the priority that transcends time is family. To Mom family was her life, joy and strength. Joann Mae Gruhl was born to Paul and Katherine Gruhl on September 17, 1938 at Mercy Hospital in Davenport, Iowa. When she was three years old, she lost her mother to cancer. If our mother had died when we were so young, we cannot imagine who or what we would be today. The difficulties that she overcame during her childhood helped define the person she became and the values that she instilled in each of her children. On May 26, 1956, Joann Gruhl and Jeptha Randolph were married and spent the next 47 years together united in building a family and a life of fulfillment. Dad wrote in 1995 that “when Joann entered my life the days were filled with happy times and love. We were married in the spring-time and we talked of love and planned our future years together. Over the years our plans of family were fulfilled with three girls and four boys, all healthy and full of promise for their lives ahead. Joann has always been a winner: as a wife, as a mother and as a community activist. As our children matured and reached adulthood, she was always there for guidance when it was needed or a laugh or a smile during the happy times.” As a team, Mom and Dad worked their way through veterinary school at Iowa State while raising their growing family. Mom became a Certified Nurse’s Assistant and worked at Mary Greeley Hospital and baby sat for other families. The nursing skills would be something she would utilize many times as a mother of seven. In 1964, Mom and Dad moved to Mechanicsville and set-up their veterinary practice. Over the coming years she became an active member of the community: a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, President of the American Legion Auxiliary, 4-H Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, Leo Club Sponsor, President of the Lincoln Community Athletic Booster Club and Music Booster Club, and volunteer for the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Drive in honor of her mother. For 15 years she operated Doc and Jo’s Restaurant where she mentored many and shared her excellent cooking skills. She also enjoyed playing on Doc’s Pussy Cats Bowling Team and selling Luzier Cosmetics to the many farm ladies in the area. Of all her titles and positions the one she like most was Mother. It was through children of all ages that Mom really shined. She personally liked the little children best, but the teenagers were drawn to her as well. Kids in the neighborhood knew they could count on her for a quick after school treat, a smile and a wave, a ready donor for any school or club fundraiser, and a willing ear. She loved fresh flowers. She always wanted red geraniums for her front flower boxes, pink peonies, and yellow roses that Dad would give her. In later years she enjoyed watching the various birds that were frequent visitors to her many bird feeders. All holidays were celebrated with decorations inside and out. She loved to cover the house in blue lights each Christmas, helping to bring the spirit of Christmas to the entire neighborhood. Halloween always brought ghosts, goblins, pumpkins, and a cemetery to her yard. In summer a patriotic theme took over with red, white and blue from May through July. The goose changed their outfit at least once a month! A goose theme also pervaded the house. She collected salt and pepper shakers all her married life, making it easy to pick out a gift as her children traveled the country and the world. Mom was a wonderful scheduler: She liked routine and stability. We all knew the breakfast schedule, Mon and Thursday: hot or cold cereal, Tuesday and Friday: pancakes or French toast, Wednesday: scrambled eggs, Saturday: Miniature boxes of sugared cereal, and Sunday: full brunch breakfast after church. She was a great believer of list. School work, sports practice and weekly chores were the focus during the weekdays, but come Saturday morning “to do” list were distributed to all, funny enough it seemed you could never get to the bottom of the list? The list included task such as room cleaning, which from time to time led to fighting and running from room to room by Monica and Ritchie and others. She instilled the spirit of delegation of authority to the eldest kids on nights Dad and she would go out to dinner with friends; Ritchie, Monica, Victor and Mellody all had their turn being in charge of the house on Saturday nights. First having to make sure Mom’s “to do” list was completed. Most of the time they checked the box for taking us all to Saturday evening Mass, most of the time! Every night she would say “Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite”, but for years, Mellody always thought she said, “Don’t wet the bed, the bugs will bite”. Being a high energy woman, she didn’t get a lot of sleep, but loved her five-minute power naps. For us kids, we all had a regular bedtime. Didn’t matter if all the other kids in the neighborhood were out playing, if it was still light out, or if we were in the middle of a great movie with the family. Sunday nights were Mom’s night off, so cheesy Velveeta popcorn and Shasta pop was the staple for Sunday night super in the old TV room, everyone watching Walt Disney. One luxury Mom enjoyed in her life in Mechanicsville, up until the end, was her weekly hair appointment. For many years perms and color were added, whether at a salon in Mt. Vernon or Anamosa, by Aunt Audrey in the kitchen while sipping a bottle of Cold Duck, or later enjoying the company of Amy’s weekly stops. Mom also loved to travel, first with Jep, then with her children and lady friends. As her health declined, she often talked of trips she would have liked to take, but also cherished memories of past ones. Through her moral strength she taught us the values which provided us the foundations of a good life: to be honest, caring, even handed, proud, loyal and hard working. These values were demonstrated not discussed. Thank you Mom, for providing us these most enduring gifts. We would like to invite anyone who has a memory or story of Mom to share. Long live the good times and your memories of Joann.