Joanne J. Baack

Joanne J. Baack, 93, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on March 13, 2026, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.

Born on October 27, 1932, in rural Saline County, Nebraska, to Carl and Velma (Noler) Paulsen, Joanne married Ivan D. Baack on October 18, 1952, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple shared 34 years together until Ivan’s passing in December 1986.

For 34 years, Joanne worked as a bookkeeper at Wayne Manufacturing. She found joy in flower gardening, bowling, playing cards, and occasional trips to casinos. An avid traveler, she took special pride in escorting each of her seven grandchildren on overseas journeys. A longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, she remained engaged in her faith community until moving to Westridge Care Center in 2023, where she formed many new friendships and enjoyed bingo, crossword puzzles, and dominoes.

Joanne is survived by her children, Jerry (Linda) Baack of Evansville, Indiana, Debra (James) Krugler of Morris, Illinois, and Sandra (Craig) Kiracofe of Swisher, Iowa; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Carol Sell; sisters-in-law Alice Armstrong, Joyce Paulsen, and Rose Paulsen; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Dale Paulsen, Nora Lea Stutzman, Kenneth Paulsen, and Robert Paulsen, brothers-in-law Neal Sell and Clair Stutzman, and granddaughter Rebekah Baack.