JoAnn Harmsen

Jo Ann Harmsen, 95, of 553 Christine Dr N.E., Rio Rancho, NM, formerly of Atlantic, IA, died on March 22, 2024.   She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM, for 9 years.  Before this, she was a member of Christ Lutheran Church for 30 years.

Jo Ann was born October 31, 1928 in Harlan, Iowa, the daughter of  Grover C. Abrell and Ruth Tucker Abrell, where she grew up and graduated from Harlan High School in 1947.  She was united in marriage to Lloyd W. Harmsen on February 20, 1949 at the Bethal Baptist Church in Harlan. They lived on the Harmsen farm in Walnut, Iowa for 23 years.

The family first moved to Atlantic, Iowa in 1957, where she was employed at Moorman Mfg. Company for five years, and two years at Federal Crop Ins.  The family moved back to the farm in 1963, before moving back to Atlantic in 1973 where she worked as an assistant librarian at Atlantic Carnegie Public Library for ten years.

In 1985 the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Jo Ann was   assistant manager for Echo Ridge Homes Coop for thirteen years.  In 1989,   Jo Ann and her husband Lloyd moved into their new home in Rio Rancho, NM before retiring in 1998.

Surviving is her one son,  Matthew L. Harmsen of Rio Rancho, NM.; four grandsons -  Scott W. Harmsen, wife Cynthia of Papillion, NE, Gregory E. Harmsen, wife Tara of Council Bluffs, IA, Charles M. Harmsen of Council Bluffs, IA, Joe K. Olson, wife Rochelle of Lindstrom, MN; one granddaughter Sara Olson of Mora, MN;  nine great grandchildren - Joseph & Kaleb Olson of Lindstrom, MN, twins Jacob & Caleb Harmsen of Overland Park, KS,  Hunter & Brandon Harmsen, Chelsea Kohl  of Council Bluffs, IA, and Stacy & Sean  Harmsen of Papillion, NE;  nephews - Corbin & Preston Mathiesen;  nieces -  Brett Mathiesen, Deborah Hochstadt,  and Donna Hunsaker.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd W. Harmsen, June 24, 2000, son Mark W. Harmsen, November 9, 2018, her parents, both sets of grandparents, brother Freal E. Abrell, sister Madge L. Abrell, sister Roberta G. Abrell Mathiesen and brother-in-law Gene Mathiesen, and one nephew Kenneth Abrell.

Arrangements will be made to have Jo Ann buried in the Atlantic Cemetery with service by Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA, where she had been a member when living in Iowa.  Graveside Services are pending.