Joan McGuire's Obituary
Joan McGuire (née Foley), 86, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026, at Calvin Community Care Home in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by her loving family.
Born May 8, 1939, in Clinton, Iowa, to Charles and Rose Mary Foley, Joan lived a full and vibrant life filled with faith, family, hospitality, and joy.
Joan was the cherished only child of her parents, who owned Foley Construction Company. Her early years were spent traveling with them to various worksites across eastern Iowa. She grew up in Delmar before her family settled in Clinton in the 1950s, where she attended and graduated from Mount Saint Clare Academy.
After high school, Joan pursued her passion for beauty, attending Iowa School of Beauty in Dubuque and returning to Clinton to work as a beautician. It was in Clinton that she met the love of her life, Jim McGuire. They married on February 12, 1966, at Sacred Heart Church and built their home and family on the McGuire family farm near Elvira, where they raised their children.
Joan and Jim were blessed with five children: Tim (Tricia) of Carmel, IN; Terry (Brenda) of Urbandale, IA; Julie (deceased); Todd (Kelli) of Grimes, IA; and Tom (Kody) of Mt. Vernon, IA. The heartbreaking loss of their infant daughter Julie remained a tender part of Joan's heart throughout her life.
A devout Catholic her entire life, Joan was an active member of St. Patrick's Villa Nova and later Prince of Peace parish in Clinton, IA. Joan also volunteered for many years as a member of Mercy Hospital Auxiliary.
Joan had a true gift for hospitality and loved social gatherings of all types. She was a well-known and enthusiastic card player, enjoying countless games and laughter with friends in card clubs around Clinton and DeWitt.
Above all, Joan delighted in her role as a grandmother. She and Jim traveled to birthdays, holidays, sporting events, and family gatherings, creating lasting memories with their grandchildren: Molly, Jake, Ben, Libby, Sam, Jillian, Tess and Griffin.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Jim in 2017, her daughter Julie, and others dear to her. She is survived by her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, and a wide circle of family and friends whose lives she touched with kindness and grace.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at Calvin Community for the exceptional care Joan received.
Visitation will be held at Prince of Peace Parish at 9:30am on Friday February 20, 2026 with Funeral Mass at 11:00am with burial to follow at St. Patrick's of Villa Nova Cemetery. Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is assisting the family; online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at https://www.snellzornig.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Prince of Peace Catholic Church or Calvin Community.
Joan’s light continues to shine through all who loved her.
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