Josephine (Heiny) Hovland, peacefully went to her Lord and Savior in her daughter's home in Del Mar, CA, on Monday, October 13, 2008, with her son, Don, her grandson, Max, a dear friend and neighbor, Mary Ann, and her daughter, Melodie by her side. She was 95 years and 9 months old. Memorial service will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, IA with Pastor W. Paul Weeg officiating. Her family will greet relatives and friends one hour prior to the service at the church on the day of the service. Inurnment will take place at Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Lake Mills, IA after a luncheon at the church. Jo was born at home in Northwood, IA, January 20, 1913 to Grace Susan (Shaw) and Leonell (Mel) Amos Heiny. She was baptized June 10, 1923 in the Methodist Church there. In 1925 the family moved to Lake Mills. In Lake Mills Community School Jo excelled in academics, was Impilight in a high school play, gave a dramatic reading of "Yellow Butterflies", and made many life-long friends, especially her 'forever friend', Evy (Field (Ernest) Klett. There, also, she met her future husband, Carlyle (Monk) Hovland. They were married February 25, 1932 for 55 years. After her marriage, Jo joined Salem Lutheran Church, where she remained a member all her life. A son, Don Carlyle, was born April 6, 1933 when they lived in Leland, IA where Monk was a buttermaker. That profession was continued when they moved to Lake Mills a few years later. A daughter, Melodie Sue, was born November 18, 1942. Jo was active at Salem Lutheran as a fourth grade Sunday School teacher for years, sang in the choir, served on Altar Guild, and was president of Ladies Aid for four years. She was constant and steadfast in her prayer life. They built a popular restaurant, Monk's Grill, in 1953. Jo Helped out with the many dear workers who waited tables, served delicious home made food, especially Fern Johnson's home made pies. After the restaurant closed in 1963, they moved to St. Paul, MN. Jo was hired by the Minnesota Highway Dept. where she ably organized the accounts section for seven years. In 1970 they moved to Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat in the Cascade Mountains near Chelan, WA, where Monk was head chef. Jo helped at various tasks there until they went to Chelan to work at Campbell's Lodge in 1974 where Jo was an office manager. She was proud of her work ethic in all of her jobs. As Monk's health declined, they moved back to Lake Mills in 1978 where he died in 1987. Jo remained there, enjoying her many friends and activities until she moved to live with Melodie in Del Mar, CA, August, 2006. Throughout her adult life, Jo loved to tend her plants and flowers, knit, bowl, dance, play golf, tennis, and cards, read and write poetry, watch all sports on T.V., and visit with her many friends. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports during her winter stays with Melodie's family in Gig Harbor, WA. Three memorable events gave her special memories: an Oahu, HI vacation with Don, an 85th birthday Caribbean cruise with Melodie, and celebrating her 90th birthday at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Monk, her brothers Glen and Dean (Alberta) Heiny and his son, Frank and Frank's mother, Dorothy (Martinson) Heiny, her sister and brother-in-law, Bernie (Heiny) and Harley Nelson and their daughter, Hope Arneson, and Melodie's daughter, Nan. She is survived by her son, Don, Carmel, CA and three grandchildren: Anne Davis-Lee (Dennis) and great-granddaughter, Kathleen Davis, Fresno, CA; Peter Hovland (Diana) and great grandchildren, Paul, Joshua and Ericka, Fresno, CA; Karen Woodruff and great-granddaughter, Natalie, Sacramento, CA; her daughter, Melodie, Del Mar, CA and three grandchildren, Jenny Pellegrino (Tom) and great-grandchildren, Kai and Sol, Encinitas, CA; Rachel Hangartner, San Francisco, CA and Max Hangartner, Carlsbad, CA. She had special love for her sister, Bernie's children, Le Ann Hamilton, Franceen (Ron) Hermanson, Jackie (Warren) Kimball, Bonnie Desautel, Cheryl Johnson, Ronald (Dr. Barbara) Nelson and Candice (Phil) Rink, and a niece, Mary (Hovland) Edwards (Dr. Bill). A special mention for her kind and loving friends-like-family Don and Faye Aamodt, Opal (Milton) Bang, Betsy Brown, Fern Johnson and her son Denny Johnson, Connie and Keith Smeby and their children, and Virginia and Floyd Thomas.
Mittelstadt Funeral Home