Joannita Stauffer

Joannita May Stauffer, 74 of Wayland, IA died Friday, March 14, 2008 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following a short illness.

Funeral Services have been set for 10:30 AM Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church with Pastor Nathan Luitjens officiating. Burial will be in the Sugar Creek Cemetery. Beatty Funeral Home in Wayland is assisting with arrangements. Visitation will begin at Noon Monday at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 PM. A memorial in the name of Joannita May Stauffer has been established to the Mennonite Central Committee.

Joannita was born May 24, 1933, in Wayland, IA, the
daughter of Joseph Christner Hirschy and Magdalena Lydia (Wagler) Hirschy.
She was married to Dareld Stauffer on May 31, 1953, at Sugar Creek
Mennonite Church, where she was a lifelong faithful member.

Joannita dedicated her life to her marriage and to raising her five
children. Her most important priority was the spiritual welfare and
development of her children and grandchildren. She was a member of
several women's prayer groups and was a prayer warrior to the very end of
her life.

Survivors include her husband Dareld Stauffer of Wayland, children Michael Stauffer
and wife Julia Alderfer Stauffer of Harrisonburg, VA, Ardell Stauffer of Akron, PA, Sonya Stauffer Kurtz
and husband Roger of Rochester, NY, Jo Helmuth of Goshen, IN, and Lieda
Stauffer and husband Tom High of Appleton, WI; ten grandchildren; sisters
Joyce Conrad, Lula Swanson, and Frieda Bachman, and brother Duwaine
Hirschy, all of Wayland.

Joannita was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Edith Blosser and
Ila Lengacher, brother Elwyn Hirschy, and daughter-in-law Brenda Stauffer.