Obituary of Joann M. Moss

Joann M. Moss, 85, of Iowa City, died Thursday, January 2, 2014, while visiting family in Austin, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, January 9, 2014, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where there will be visitation from 4 to 7 pm Wednesday. Entombment in the mausoleum will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Following the funeral services a reception for family and friends will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church.) Memorial donations can be made in Joann's memory to a cause dear to her heart, The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, www.themmrf.org. Joann Martha Paulus was born January 16, 1928, in Iowa City, the daughter of Joseph Pisha and Lucy Gertrude (Carberry) Paulus. Growing up in rural Iowa City she went to a one room school until high school, before attending City High School and graduating as valedictorian. She continued her education at the State University of Iowa in Iowa City, graduating in three years with a B.A. degree in English. She married Eldon Moss on February 14, 1950, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Eldon and Joann were dairy farmers with Eldon's parents for many years on the Moss Family Dairy Farm located on North Dubuque Road, eventually taking over the operation they shared with Eldon's dad. Eldon died on June 30, 1999, and Joann and her family continued to live in their home. She was a sixty year plus member of the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, a member of Eastern Star, a long time poll worker for the Johnson County Auditor's Office, and a very active member in the American and Iowa Guernsey Breeders Associations along with her husband. Her family includes her children, Gary Moss (Susan) of Milwaukee, WI; Rebecca Miller (Dale Webner) of Weston, FL; Rachel Moss of Iowa City; Glenn Moss (Lynne) of Austin, TX and Melissa Moss (Paul Dickens, special friend) of Iowa City; 5 grandchildren, Bryan Moss, Robby Moss, Tyler Webner, Michaela Moss and Sarah Moss; her brother Rev. Richard Paulus (Ellyn) of West Branch; her brother-in-law Bud Barnes of Iowa City, and an extended loving family. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eldon, sister, Barbara Barnes, brother, Robert Paulus, and sister-in-law Sonya Paulus. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Joann's family and her services.