In Memory of Joan Frances Tunink

 Joan Frances (Kerkhoff) Tunink, age 82, of Odebolt, IA, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at the Horn Memorial Hospital, of Ida Grove, IA.
          
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2013, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa with Father Richard D. Ball officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, December 30, 2013 in the St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a vigil service at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Christensen- Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Joan Frances Tunink was born on the family farm on March 26, 1931, one of six children born to Alphons and Frances (Bluml) Kerkhoff. She was baptized into God's family at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton, Iowa, and was later confirmed.  Joan attended Sacred Heart High School and graduated in 1948.

 She married Francis “Fiz” Tunink on December 27, 1952 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The couple made their home in Odebolt Iowa and were blessed with six children, Alan, Barbara, Jean, Curtis, Jeff, and Karen. Joan took pride in making "home" a warm and memorable place for  family and friends to gather.  She will be remembered for holiday meals on elegantly set tables and her splendid cinnamon rolls and homemade pies.  Joan started working outside of the home as a book keeper for the family business, Tunink Feed Service, and later worked for the Family Resource Center in Carroll, IA and Elderbridge Meals for seniors in Odebolt.

A devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Joan spent a lifetime creating special memories.  She will be remembered as a hardworking, strong woman with a great sense of humor who enjoyed life and wanted those around her to do the same. She was an accomplished seamstress and would sew dolls for her grandchildren, making them come to life with a story she created to accompany each doll. You always felt special and loved in her presence.

In addition to spending time with her family, Joan enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, making quilts, baking, cooking, sports, and reading.  Favorite pastimes frequently included a competitive game of cards or scrabble. Joan belonged to the St. Martin’s Ladies Guild and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.

Joan is survived by four children, Barbara (Kent) Woodhead of Lincoln, NE;  Jean (Terry) Watters of Estherville, IA; Curtis Tunink of Atlanta, GA; Karen (Michael) Ricciotti of Covington, WA; 7 grandchildren, Jennifer (Sean) Rath;  Kristen (Beau) Bolsenga; Angela (Jeremy) Simington; Brandon (Amanda)   Woodhead; Courtney Woodhead; David Ricciotti and Nicole Ricciotti; 6 great-grandchildren, Caaden, Danica and Xander Rath, Brileigh Simington, Aria  Woodhead, Emma Bolsenga; brothers Frank (Carole) Kerkhoff of Red Oak, IA; Dave (Dee) Kerkhoff of Templeton, IA; sister, Joyce (Jim) Masching of Carroll, IA; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kerkhoff of Audubon, IA,  and Imelda Kerkhoff of      Manning, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Francis “Fiz” Tunink; two sons, Alan Tunink and Jeff Tunink; two brothers, Orville Kerkhoff and Meryl Kerkhoff.