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Obituaries » JoAnn Alleman

JoAnn Alleman

September 21, 1935 - December 15, 2020

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JoAnn Darlene Alleman was born in Des Moines, IA on September 21, 1935 to Raymond and Florence Porter.  She died on December 15, 2020 in Ankeny, IA.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Lutheran Church of Hope Ankeny (520 NW 36th St). Delay in services due to Covid restrictions at the time of JoAnn’s death.

She grew up in Altoona and graduated from Altoona High School in 1953.  She started her retail career as a teenager, working in her grandfather’s restaurant, which later became Porter Hardware in Des Moines.  She married Robert L. (Barney) Alleman on June 18, 1955 after they met on a blind date.  They resided briefly in Ames and then moved to Lawton/Ft Sill, OK.  Their daughter, Linda, was born there.  In 1958, they moved to Webster City, IA where daughter Teri was born.  Jo spent several years building her Avon business and knew many people as a result.

In the summer of 1972, the family moved to Ankeny, IA.  Jo almost immediately started working at a new store in Ankeny called DrugTown.  She began her career in the cosmetics department, but her real love was the gift department.  She was asked to set up gift shops in DrugTowns across Iowa as new stores were opened.  She is remembered by many as she worked for HyVee/DrugTown for 40 years, providing decorating advice or helping people find the perfect gifts.  Jo also enjoyed the many places they visited for Barney’s insurance work and the Jurassic Larks singing engagements.  She was a member of Lutheran Church of Hope in Ankeny.

She is survived by her husband, Barney Alleman of Ankeny; daughters, Linda Alleman (Tim Flowers) of West Des Moines, and Teri Sommerlot (Dave) of Ankeny; brother, David Porter (Judy) of Altoona; granddaughters, Katy Fukuda (Masaki) of Ankeny, Liv Sommerlot of Berlin, Germany, and Carly Sommerlot of Dallas, Texas; and great-granddaughter, Sophie Fukuda.

During a private gravesite service on January 8, her ashes were buried in Ankeny Memorial Gardens. Memorials can be given to Lutheran Church of Hope, Ankeny, in Jo’s name.

The family gives their heartfelt thanks to the staff at SunnyView Care Center for their loving care of Jo.

Timeline

  • Ankeny, Iowa

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