Joan LeValley

Memorial services will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, June 26, at the Friendship Haven Celebration Center. A time of gathering for family and friends will be held prior to the service from 12:00-1:00 on Friday. In honor of Joan’s favorite menu items, coffee and dessert will be served following celebration of life.

Joan was born on January 22, 1937, to Fred and Helen (Chenowith) Shultz in Pickering, Missouri. She graduated from Dayton High School in 1955 where she met her beloved husband of 66 years, Gary LeValley. Joan attended Morningside College in Sioux City and graduated from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri. After graduation she taught 5th grade. Gary and Joan made their home in the Iowa City area, San Francisco, California; and Farmington, New Mexico before moving to Fort Dodge in 1965.

Joan was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and Gigi. She also enjoyed selling Doncaster clothing and was a co-owner of ReMax Realty in Fort Dodge. Joan was active in PEO, a past president of the Women’s Medical Auxiliary, and a member of First United Methodist Church.

In her earlier years, Joan could be seen running the streets of town; her routes averaged 6-10 miles daily. Joan loved running in all types of weather and participated in many road races throughout the state.

Joan also enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, was an accomplished pianist and served as church organist at age 12. Joan loved treating family to ice cream, especially while on family vacations. She had a fabulous sense of humor and often had people laughing, frequently without meaning to. Joan was an avid reader and passed the love of books onto the generations.

Joan is survived by her children, Lori (Kirk) VanKirk of Panora, IA; Sheryl (Robert) Schultz of Eagle, CO; Kimberly Nagle of Flower Mound, TX; Bradley (Rachel) of Fort Collins, CO; 11 grandchildren,12 great-grandchildren with two on the way. She is also survived by her sister Mary Shultz.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Gary LeValley on April 25, 2025; her parents, brothers John and Dennis, and son-in-law Steve Nagle.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to Friendship Haven, Unity Point Hospice, or First United Methodist Church of Fort Dodge.