Obituary of Johanna M. Beers

Johanna Beers, longtime columnist for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, died suddenly Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a long battle with congestive heart failure. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2004, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Mel Schlachter officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8pm Friday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, the Johanna Beers Memorial Fund has been established. Iowa City’s Sunday Parking Ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church located at 320 E. College Street. Following the cemetery services, a reception will be held at the Iowa City Press-Citizen, everyone is welcome and encouraged to continue to share “Jo’s” life. Johanna Mary (Nelson) Beers was born August 11, 1916 in Manly, Iowa the daughter of John and Minnie (Kuchar) Nelson. Following graduation from high school, she attended Mason City Junior College for two years and then came to Iowa City to attend the University of Iowa. She soon changed her major from medicine to journalism, in which she received her degree. During school, she worked at the Iowa City Press-Citizen starting part-time in 1937 and becoming full-time in 1939 after graduation. Here she becomes a legend, having written numerous columns over the years, including her last one that appeared in yesterday’s edition. She married Leslie “Red” Beers on August 30, 1941, in Sioux Falls, SD. Red died November 25, 1973. Writing was not her only passion; she loved people, and being involved in many facets of peoples lives. Including but not limited to these; a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, one of the founding members of the Coralville Commercial Club, later becoming the Coralville Chamber of Commerce; an Iowa State Fair Judge for years, she loved playing bridge, being inducted into the Iowa State (not ISU!) Leagues Bridge Hall of Fame; held every office in Altrusa International, being a member for over 60 years. She was also an avid sports fan, especially rooting for our Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs. Her family includes a daughter, Beverly Volicer of Westford, Mass.; sons, Michael and Frank Beers both of Coralville; four granddaughters, Emily and her husband, Stefano Frascaroli, Zuzka and her husband, Michael Blasi, Marika and her husband, Douglas Scott, and Nadya Volicer; and one great-grandson, Dante Blasi.