Joan Marie Akers

“A heart that has broken, is a heart that has been loved.” A verse echoing the gift Joan Marie Kaufman was to her family and friends. Joan Marie Kaufman Akers passed away peacefully on the morning of October 3, 2026. Born February 19, 1940, in Tama County, Iowa, she was the youngest daughter of Albert and Mabel (Behounek) Kaufman. She attended primary school at a one room country school and St. Joseph Catholic School in Chelsea. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1957, where she played basketball and softball. After graduation, she continued to play softball in the Central City Town League. Joan worked in the admissions office at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids until 1962.

On June 24, 1961, she married Merle Akers at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chelsea. They made their home in Central City, Iowa, where they raised their four children and celebrated 65 years of marriage. They were long time members of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Central City, where Joan volunteered as a Religious Education Teacher and was often asked to cook for various events. She worked part time at Central City Community school as both a lunch lady and office worker, making a point to embarrass her children while they were in line. Joan was always willing to volunteer for organizations in which her children were involved such as den leader in the Cub Scouts and Webelos, and as a troop leader in the Girl Scouts.

Merle and Joan enjoyed following their children’s sports, music, and drama activities. Once their children were grown, they easily transitioned to following their grandchildren’s activities, leading them to many miles of travel. The grandkids always knew their grandparents would be in the stands, in the theatre, or sitting on the parade route.

Between their grandkids’ events, Merle and Joan found time to travel. Some of her favorite adventures included traveling through Canada, to the upper northeast of the US to see the fall foliage, the Rocky Mountains, Europe, especially Ireland and United Kingdom, many cruises, and trips to historical sites. Participating in card clubs, playing Five Hundred and Pepper; and Tuesday morning breakfast groups were very important to her. She loved hosting card club in their home and choosing the gifts they gave to the winners and losers.

Joan enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren who have vivid memories of her, arriving at their house on Halloween, dressed as a witch, with her perfect witchy cackle. More loving memories for the grandkids include sleeping under the “blue, orange, and white quilt,” making kolaches, Grandma baking their birthday cakes (or decorating Styrofoam), making fish taste like chicken, hiding a $500 bill under her leg to pull out at the last second to win at Monopoly, Grandma camp and the smell of breakfast food in the morning, her funny one-liners, playing BINGO in the church basement, playing games like Yahtzee, Rumikub, and Trivial Pursuit. Other family memories include Grandma Joan eating all the pretend food made for her, playing Old Maid and Go Fish, sitting on the rocking footstool while talking to her, watching soap operas, eating hotdogs on the 4th of July, her making Mickey Mouse pancakes, playing at the splash pad, and reminding her grandchildren that they light up the room. A fond memory for the whole family is the delicious food she cooked for family events, especially meatloaf, mashed potatoes, pancakes, waffles with chocolate syrup, scrambled eggs, and pies, cooking all that while keeping everyone out of her kitchen!

Joan is survived by her husband, Merle; their children, Doug (Yamil) of Coggon, Chris (Robin) of Iowa City, Tom (Kelly) of Cambridge, Illinois, and Pam (Dave) Carlin of Ankeny. Merle and Joan were blessed with 11 grandchildren, who are her pallbearers: Cody (Andrea) Akers, Jordyn (Stephen) Box, Austin (Shannen) Akers, Kaelyn (Thiago) Trevisani, Nathan (Karlee) Carlin, Abby Carlin, Tristan (Hannah Marie) Akers, Hannah Akers, Ryan Carlin, Olivia Akers, and Evan Akers; and four great-grandchildren: Evelyn Akers, Vivian Akers, Mason Trevisani, and Eleanor Carlin. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Nancy Akers; her aunt, Dorothy Jones of Hurst, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Jerry Jr. and Wilma Akers; her brother, Jim Kaufman; her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Ray Coleman; and her uncle, Bob Jones.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Central City, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with Father Wayne Droessler as the celebrant. The family will host visitations at St. Stephens on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, October 7, 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joan’s name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.