JoAnn Tracy

JoAnn Tracy, 80, of Sioux City died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dennis Meinen officiating. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Monday in Silver Creek Cemetery, rural Hancock, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a rosary at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. JoAnn was born July 11, 1931, on a farm near Ponca, Neb., the daughter of Stanley and Lorene (Agnes) Backman. She grew up near the Ponca and Newcastle, Neb., communities. She graduated from Ponca High School. She married Lowell Knott on Sept. 5, 1959, in Omaha, Neb. He died April 5, 1991. She married Ed Tracy on July 26, 1997, in Sioux City. JoAnn worked for Sioux City Battery Company, and for 17 years at Tri-Center School System in Neola, Iowa. She returned to Sioux City and worked at Blessed Sacrament School for several years. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Minden, Iowa, while living in Neola, and St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City. JoAnn enjoyed playing cards. Survivors include her husband, Ed of Sioux City; her daughter, Lori (Willie) Leija of San Antonio, Texas; her son, Allen Knott of Omaha; two grandchildren, Amanda and William Leija; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lowell; an infant son, David; and a brother, Stan. Pallbearers will be Rob Seiler, Brad Knott, David Knott, Tim Stevens, Brian Knott and Jessica Seiler. Honorary pallbearers will be Anna Seiler, Blake Riker and Amanda and William Leija.