Erma Ballanger Obituary

Erma Joann Ballanger, age 91 of Centerville, Iowa, passed away one hour shy of her 92nd birthday at her home surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
She was born July 2, 1933 at Lee Walker home in Udell, Iowa, the daughter of William and Juanita Benge. Joann graduated from Gibbon, Nebraska in 1952. She was united in marriage to Delmer Ballanger on November 15, 1952 at the First Baptist Church in Centerville. The couple celebrated nearly sixty-seven years of marriage.
Joann dedicated twenty-five years of employment to St. Joseph and Mercy One hospitals in Centerville, until her retirement.
In her free time, Joann enjoyed scrapbooking, baking bread, bible studies, music, and watching westerns especially Gunsmoke. Most importantly, she cherished her family and friends. Joann dedicated her life to her Lord and Savior, and was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Centerville.
She is survived by her daughter, Romona (Allen) McDanel of Grain Valley, Missouri and son, Rick (Kathy) Ballanger of Centerville; eight grandchildren, Melanie (Mike) Seals, Kelly Murphy, Rochelle (Chris) Schroeder, Nicole (Jason) Shapiro, Andrew (Stephanie) McDanel, Janee (Brock) Carson, Justine Ballanger, and Jacoby (Krystia) Ballanger; twenty great grandchildren, Matthew (Maryanne) and Carson Seals, Madison, Caleb and Luke Murphy, Brookelynn, Anna and Emma Schroeder, William and Reece Shapiro, Lily, Harper and Niyah McDanel, Presley, Kaleha, Emmett and Everleigh Carson, Arabella, Tatyn and Ambrose Ballanger; her brother-in-law, Clarence (Judy) Ballanger; her sister-in-law, Daralyn Benge; and many nieces and nephews.
Joann was preceded in death by her husband, Delmer Ballanger; parents, William and Juanita Benge; two stillborn daughters, Rebecca and Rochelle Ballanger; a son, Rodney Ballanger; a sister, Norma Johnson; a brother, David Benge; sisters-in-law, Deloris, Bethel and, Patty Ballanger; brothers-in-law, Everett Johnson, John Ballanger, Nelson Ballanger, and Frank Ballanger; and in laws, Otis and Stella Ballanger.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00PM, Monday, July 7, 2025 at the First Baptist Church in Centerville. Burial will follow the service at Haines Cemetery, north of Centerville. Visitation will take place Monday, July 7, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, with the family greeting friends from 10:00AM-12:00PM. Memorials have been established to either the First Baptist Church or EveryStep Hospice, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Ballanger Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
To view the livestream of the services for Joann, please click the webcast link below or visit: https://my.gather.app/remember/erma-joann-ballanger
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