A celebration of life gathering for Joann Samsel, 75, of Lakeside, will be held from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, March 30, 2015, at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake. Private family burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery at a later date. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.
Joann Charlotte Fray was born June 21, 1939 in Fairfield, Iowa, the daughter of Ivan C. and Lucile (McFarland) Fray. In 1955 Joann was adopted by Richard and Cleta Thomas of Storm Lake. She graduated from the Storm Lake High School in 1958. In 1961 she graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake with a degree in elementary education. Joann’s first teaching position was fourth grade in Fairmont, MN. On June 23, 1963 Joann married Tom Samsel at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake. Later she became certified to teach art and taught at Newell, Storm Lake St. Mary’s, Sioux Rapids-Rembrandt, and Aurelia. Joann and Tom owned and operated the Photo-Craft photography studio in Storm Lake. Joann was a home health provider for family and friends for many years. She was a member of the Church of Christ, where she was organist for several years. She had an outgoing personality and no one was a stranger for long.
Joann died Thursday, March 26, 2015, at the Unity Point St. Luke’s Health Center in Sioux City after a battle with cancer.
Preceding Joann in death were her parents, two sisters; Virginia Johnson and Joyce Boyd, and two brothers; Frank Wehmeyer and Steven Handy.
Survivors include her husband Tom of Lakeside, two sisters; Pauline and her husband Ernie Dicks of Ottumwa, IA, and Linda McNatt of Albuquerque, NM, three brothers; Carl Miller of Oregon, Ivan Carbaugh of Oklahoma City, OK, and Warren and his wife Elizabeth Wehmeyer of Washington, two brothers-in-law; Gene Johnson of Greenville, TN, Richard Boyd of Ottumwa, one sister-in-law, Carolyn Handy of Ottumwa, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.