JoAnn Montilla

JoAnn Montilla, age 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at her home in Ventura, Iowa with her husband and daughter, Christina, by her side. A private family inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa on September 7.

JoAnn was born on May 22, 1938, in Mason City, the daughter of Burdette and Gladys (Hanna) Amundson. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake and graduated from Clear Lake High School with the class of 1956. JoAnn went on to further her education at X-Ray Tech College in Minneapolis, Minn.

She met the love of her life, Jose Romero Montilla, who was a friend of her brother, Ike, when her brother brought him home one year for the holidays. Ike and Jose were serving together in the Navy at the time. They courted for two years, maintaining their connection through letters (all of which she saved). On November 6, 1957, JoAnn and Jose were united in marriage in Miami, Fla. Together, they were blessed with four daughters. As an added benefit of the military, JoAnn was able to travel and live in several states and live in her husband’s home country, the Philippines for three years. She really enjoyed experiencing the culture along with “hanging” out with his sisters and brothers (14 of them). When Jose retired from the Navy, they moved back to Clear Lake where JoAnn worked for several places including General Medicine Associates and Handicapped Village Group Home.

JoAnn found joy in spending time with her family, going on picnics with her husband, watching movies, enjoying homemade popcorn and puzzles. In her younger years, she enjoyed roller skating and would go to the local roller-skating rink in Clear Lake quite often. She was a talented artist, creating beautiful paintings and expressing her love for bright colors and flowers and sailboats through her artwork. Since her husband enjoyed tennis so much, she even tried playing the sport, only to end up breaking her ankle. She did, however, excel at Judo; breaking boards with her hands and feet. She also loved remembering when she was a child growing up in Clear Lake, to the point of writing down all of her memories and making them into a book.

JoAnn is survived by her loving husband, Jose Montilla; her daughters, Melodie (Klaus) Hagspiel, Christina (Craig) Mishak, Melinda (Scott) Nickerson, and Alicia Biggers; and her grandchildren, Stefan, Lauren, Brenden, Christian, Erik, Connor, Nicholas, and Tommie. She is also survived by her six great-grandchildren Rylie, Callie, Mason, Liam, Austyn and Dawson; several brothers- and sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Burdette and Gladys Amundson; her mother and father-in-law, Manuel and Maria Montilla; and her brothers, Ronald “Ike” and Jerry Amundson. Several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, good friends and classmates.

JoAnn will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her loving spirit, artistic talents, and joy for life will be remembered by her family and friends forever.

Ward Van Slyke is in charge of arrangements.