Joanne M. Richards

Joanne M. Richards, 93 of Hinton passed away Friday, November 15, 2024. Visitation will be on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 12:30-2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church in Hinton, IA, with the memorial service immediately following at 2:00 P.M.

Joanne Marie (Spies) Richards was born on Feb. 22, 1931, to Milton and Kathryn (Rush) Spies in Hinton, IA. Joanne grew up on a farm east of Hinton and could always be found playing outdoors or working at being a carpenter with her brother Dick. In school Joanne was active in all sports and will always be remembered for one particular basketball game. It was a few seconds until halftime and Joanne suddenly called a time out, much to the dismay of Coach Schaff. When he asked her why she had done that she said, “My bra strap broke and I didn’t want to get a black eye!” That incident is indicative of her unique, and sometimes salty, sense of humor.

On Dec. 19, 1952, Joanne married Don Henry Richards and then moved to Corona, CA, where Don was stationed in the Marines. After one year, they moved back to Hinton with a brand new baby boy and have resided in Hinton ever since.

 Joanne was an avid golfer and played in, and won, many tournaments. She was also an excellent bookkeeper for Brown’s Garage/ Bennett Implement Dealership and the City of Hinton. The last several years she blossomed as an outstanding oil artist. Her art work has graced many homes and is a treasure for everyone who was fortunate to receive one of her paintings.

Even though it’s never easy to leave loved ones on earth, Joanne said that she was eager to see her loved ones in heaven. Joanne is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don, her sister Lois Lang, and her brother Dick, and son-in-law Scott Handy. She is survived by her sister Peggy Carroll, three children Curtis (Janet) Richards, Roxanne Handy (Carl), Marti (Dennis) Huggenberger, nine grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. We have all been blessed to be touched by her wit and warmth; and we will always remember her as she wanted to be remembered, “She was a tough old broad.”