Joliene Kirby

Joliene Kirby, 59, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Sunday, July 22, 2012, at her home following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012, from 1-7 p.m. at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. that evening. There will be no service. Inurnment will be at a later date at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in LeMars, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be given to the family and will be directed towards research for glioblastoma. There aren't enough words in the world to describe the lifetime of goodness that Joliene brought to this world. She spent her entire life tirelessly advocating for any who were unable to advocate for themselves. She was devoted to her husband Ben, who was her best friend. She was hands down the best daughter, sister and aunt in the world. She will be remembered for her love of shopping, cats, wine, flowers, humming birds, and Vegas! Her family will especially hold close the memories of the many summer vacations spent at Lake Carlos and especially the tradition of "lake presents" that she instituted. Christmases will not be the same without the special gifts that she lovingly shopped for many months in advance. Her co-workers and friends will not forget the holiday spirit that she loved to share each year; complete with appropriate apparel from head to toe! She had a special knack for turning houses into homes. She loved to hunt for antique treasures. These pieces were repurposed and enjoyed in all of her homes, from the 1800's brick house she restored to the house she and Ben planned and built together. The Kirby home was never without any number of cats and dogs. She will be missed by Cocoa, Dolly, Maggie, Jack, and Bjorn. Joliene Carol Dise was born on February 24, 1953, the first child of Dale and Mary(Campbell) Dise in Austin, Minnesota. She was raised in Myrtle, Minnesota, Plainfield, Iowa, and LeMars, Iowa, where she graduated from high school in 1971. She received a BS in Sociology from Westmar College in 1975. She began her career in Social Work at that time, which she continued until her retirement in 2011. She married Benjamin Kirby on December 12, 1992. She is survived by her husband Ben; mother Mary of Kingman, AZ; brother Roger (Connie) Dise of Plano, Texas; sister Deb (Bruce) Mitlyng of Marshall, Minnesota; brother-in-law Jim (Dena) Kirby of Farmington, New Mexico; and nieces and nephews Allison Dise, Preston Dise, Alicia Dise, Tyler (Tracy) Mitlyng, Lindsay Mitlyng, Katy Mitlyng, Laura Mitlyng, Lauren Kirby, Alex Kirby, and Bryce Kirby. She was preceded in death by her father Dale; her brother Keith; and in-laws Elvin and Ruth Kirby.