July 2, 1936 ~ March 23, 2026
Joan Marie Mueterthies age 89 of Lawler, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 23, 2026 at Unity Point Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Nick Radloff celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Lawler with her six grandsons serving as pallbearers and eight granddaughters serving as honorary pall bearers.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2026, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton. Scripture service will be held 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Rosary service, the family invites the public to join them. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church in Lawler on Saturday.
Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton has been entrusted with arrangements.
Born July 2, 1936, to Oswald and Marie (Schwickerath) Schmitz in New Hampton, IA, Joan grew up in rural Ionia as the third of ten siblings. She attended the local country school, then St. Boniface High School, graduating in 1954. Following high school, she worked at the Main Diner and JC Penney in New Hampton. Joan met Alfred (Fritz) Mueterthies at a dance, and they were married on September 4, 1957. The couple farmed east of New Hampton for eight years, welcoming their first five children, before settling on the Mueterthies family farm north of Lawler in 1965, where their youngest was born. In 1993, Joan and Fritz moved to Lawler, where they both lived out their days.
Throughout her life, Joan was committed to nurturing youth and impacting many lives—teaching religious education for three decades at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and leading the Lawler Lassies and Lads 4-H club for over 35 years. She formed lasting bonds with friends in her neighborhood club, the Putter Pals, and met many others while helping her daughters’ with their fabric store, Material Magic. From her early years caring for her siblings to later volunteering countless hours at her church and in her community, Joan dedicated herself to serving others. Her roles included Parish Society member, Parish Council member, chair of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, among other volunteer positions.
Joan enjoyed sewing, quilting, embroidering, cake decorating, and baking treats to share with family and friends. In later years, she cherished calls and visits from her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many friends.
She is survived by her children: Mark (Peg) Mueterthies, Marla (Gerald) Busta, Don (Keely) Mueterthies, Joyce Mueterthies, Julie Mueterthies, and Connie (Scott) Frick; her fourteen grandchildren: Amy (Mark) Crabbs, Bryan (Michelle) Mueterthies, Becky (Adam) Scharnhorst, Jason (Heidi) Mueterthies, Megan (Kelly) Miller, Michael Mueterthies, Matthew Mueterthies, Emily (Matthew) Stokes, Jaclyn (Alex) Ryan, Greg (Emily) Frick, Jeremy (Megan) Mueterthies, Bethany (Shawn) Semmler, Amanda (Jim) King, and Kaitlyn (Tom) Webb. She also leaves behind her thirty great-grandchildren: Mollie, Bennett, Tristen, Lauren, Lena, Lettie, Maisie, Anna, Eleanor, Carter, Natalie, Shelby, Jadeyn, Alexa, Raela, Walker, Adalynn, Sadie, Aubrey, Cullen, Chet, Colt, Cece, Lillian, Jackson, Clara, Spencer, Ivy, Theo, and Walter; her siblings Larry (Joyce) Schmitz, Joyce (Tom) Renze, Gary (Karen) Schmitz, Sharon Caspersen, Dale (Laura) Schmitz; her in-laws Carol Schmitz, Elaine Schmitz, Dorothy Schmitz, Delores Schluetter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband Alfred (Fritz) on June 29, 2018; her parents Oswald and Marie Schmitz; parents-in-law Frank and Julia Mueterthies; her siblings Francella (Timmy) Burgart, Ron Schmitz, Bob Schmitz, Bill Schmitz; infant siblings Doris and Sandra Schmitz; in-laws Don Caspersen, Clarence (Madonna) Mueterthies, Bernice (Frank) Kout, Dale Schluetter, Leon (Goldie) Mueterthies; and as well as several nieces and nephews.
Joan’s enduring love for her family, friends, and faith is her legacy. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to all who helped Joan remain in her home and to those who visited or called—you were truly a blessing in her life.
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