Joann Trost

Joann Jessie Aschinger, the daughter of John and Kathryn (Peters) Aschinger was born June 2, 1931 in Westside, Iowa. She departed this life on March 10, 2018 at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 9 months and 8 days. She was the 6th of 7 children born to this family. The family farmed near Westside, Iowa. Joann attended country school with her siblings until the family moved to Wall Lake. She graduated from Wall Lake High School in 1949. She taught country school at Jackson #5.  

Joann met Paul Trost in Wall Lake when he was hired as a teacher, coach and baseball player. They were united in marriage on August 18, 1951 at the Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. They were blessed with four children: Jeffrey, Steven, Scott and Laurie.

The Trost family settled in Paul’s hometown of Churdan. Joann loved gardening both flowers and vegetables. She took great pride in both and spent many hours making her flower beds beautiful and filling the freezer and cupboards with food for her family. She was very handy and did a lot of painting and wallpapering for herself and others. She also enjoyed refinishing woodwork. After her children were in school, Joann worked for the United States Postal System until her retirement. This was another source of pride for her.

The Trost family were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson, Iowa. Joann taught Sunday School, she belonged to the LWML and Fellowship Society. She was a member of the handbell and vocal choirs. She became very involved with the Bible and read and studied it in its entirety many times. She didn’t just read the Bible, however, but lived it and was a help to anyone that she felt needed her assistance. She was a very faithful member.

Joann loved to have fun and would play games whenever anyone was interested. Bridge was her favorite! She loved music and especially loved to dance. Paul and Joann would spend Sunday evenings at dances at the Lakewood Ballroom. A good polka would light up her face! Joann also loved sports, especially baseball, and spent many hours in the bleachers as the wife of a coach, but also as a mother and grandmother. She loved watching her children and then her grandchildren in all of their activities.

Joann was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1986 and met the challenge presented to her with the same determination she did everything. She did not let the disease define who she was and what she could do. She continued to work and “go” until she needed more care. In 2007, after the passing of her husband, she moved into a care facility and lived there until she passed.

Joann was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parents, John and Kathryn Aschinger; father and mother-in-law, Adolf and Laura (Nansen) Trost; brothers: Reuben, Manuel and Donald Aschinger; sister, Delores Wright/Rowedder; brothers-in-law: Herbert, Edgar and Charles Trost, Lloyd Wright, Leroy Rowedder and Wally Carstensen; sisters-in-law, Leola and Betty Aschinger, Ruth and Eloise Trost; and granddaughter, Kristin Trost.

Those left to mourn her passing are her children: Jeff and Julie of Nashua, Steve and Lori of Wall Lake, Scott and Deb of Lohrville and Laurie and George Walker of Paton; grandchildren: Jason, Jill, Jon and Krista Trost, Eric and Beth, Mitchell and Ashley Trost, Lindsey and Donald Schroeder, Amanda Trost and Chris Daniel, Stephanie Trost, Grant and Samantha Walker, Audrey Walker and Marty Ball; great-grandchildren: Madilyn, MaKenzi, Samuel, Julianna, Logan, Landon, Clayton, Marcus, Morgan and baby Walker; brothers, Marlin (Lorraine) and Veryl (Jody) Aschinger; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Aschinger, Berneta Carstensen, Geneva and Phyllis Trost; many nieces and nephews and friends.

A celebration of Joann’s life was held Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson with Pastor Dennis Martens officiating. Burial was made in the Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan. Musical selections, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” “In the Garden” and “How Great Thou Art” were sung by the congregation and were accompanied by organist, Mark Erickson. A special selection of “Lord, I Hope This Day is Good” was sung by soloist, Rita Pedersen and accompanied by pianist, Becky Keeney. Serving as casket bearers were Joann’s grandchildren.

Brown Funeral Home.