"Joni was such a quality and beautiful woman. She raised wonderful children, some who were friends of our sons. I am sorry. Condolences to Joni\'s family. I enjoyed the years we spent at the soccer pitch watching our sons play. Always the lady, Joni was the best behaved of all of us. She will be missed. "
In loving memory of
Joni Marie Harsch
October 7, 1961 - October 30, 2022
Joni Marie (Shoemaker) Harsch
October 7, 1961-October 30, 2022
We regretfully announce the passing of Joni Marie (Shoemaker) Harsch of West Des Moines on October 30, 2022, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer at the age of 61. Joni was surrounded by her family and passed away peacefully.
Our mother, Joni, was a rare mix of extreme strength and warmth. We were so lucky to have her as the head of the family. Joni was a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, cousin, colleague, and friend who gave her all to her family and loved ones. We will never be able to fill the space left behind by her.
Joni was born to Johnnie and Beth Shoemaker in 1961, and loved growing up in small-town Churdan, Iowa. After graduating from Paton-Churdan High School, Joni moved to Des Moines where she began a career in radiology. She was proud to be part of the team starting the first MRI scanner in Des Moines. After her youngest child was born, Joni took a decade-long break from the medical field to be a stay-at-home mom, and eventually started a daycare in her home where she provided love and care to dozens of children. Most recently, Joni worked at the Iowa Clinic Podiatry Department in partnership with her dear friend Dr. David Groen.
She was excellent at making anyone feel loved and always helped people to find the joy and humor in life. A deeply loving and curious person, she cherished spending time with loved ones, going on adventures, DIY home improvement, and caring for her many plants and goofy dog Charlie. She enjoyed running the Western Hills Elementary School's Chess Club, attending her children's sports and musical events, and serving on PTA for many years. We are grateful to Dr. Thomas Buroker, his nurses Michelle and Melanie, and the entire medical team for their support
over the last eleven years.
Joni was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents Evelyn and Bob Tasler and John and Anna Shoemaker, and her nephews Joey and Nick Hildreth. Joni is survived by her son Benjamin and girlfriend Patricia; son Spencer, his wife Sarah Ann, and their two beautiful children Sadie and Isabelle; her son Jonathan, his wife Samantha and their wonderful daughter Vanessa; and her daughter Emily and her partner Jacob. Joni is also survived by her beloved parents Johnnie and Beth; four siblings Jay (Rose), Jenny (Clark), Julie (Craig), Jeff (Becky); nieces, nephews, countless cousins, relatives, and lifelong friends.
A visitation will take place on Friday, November 4th from 5-7 PM with a rosary at 6:30 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 7075 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines. A funeral mass at St. Francis will follow on Saturday, November 5th at 11 AM with a luncheon reception after. In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions will be collected by the family and donated to a cancer organization in her memory.
Joni would like to remind everyone one last time to wear a helmet, recycle, and call their mother.
Tributes
"My heart goes out to the family she was a very sweet person sending g love and prayers to all"
"I?ll never forget the first time my Daughter Bella, and I met Joni. It was at a family reunion in Lohrville. I had been dating Rose, for a few months and the lack of nerves my future wife had, made me even more nervous. Walking up, what seemed to be a normal family get-together, was nothing of the sort. The laughs of conversation were more joyful. The smiles, more loving, and with out a doubt, something was different. My nerves were less shaken as I slowly go through the traditional ring of introductions as the ?boyfriend? usually gets. Everyone spunky, funny and kind in their own right. But the moment of sitting down the the three sisters, the three J?s (Julie, Joni, and Jenny). As I sat at the picnic table, they laughed at me as I attempted to remember their names. Joni, so kind and exuding love could have made anyone feel so welcome. Her questions, so inquisitive. She truly wanted to know everything about me and about ?Miss Bella?. I thought to myself it?s one thing to come to the party with the most beautiful girl in the world, it?s another to leave with the most beautiful family. Thank you Joni for the light you are to the world, the love you shared, and the never ending strength that you showed everyone who you came across. Thank you for the love you have shown my fiancé, my boys, my daughter and the least of all, to me. You will forever me missed and forever be loved. -Taylor Forsling w/ my family"
"I am so sorry to hear about Jonis passing! My hugs and prayers are coming your way! She will be missed terribly! "