JoAnn Lents, age 87 of Spokane Valley, WA, formerly of Sac City, IA, passed away peacefully with family at her side on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at MultiCare Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley. Barbara JoAnn Rench was born on December 12, 1932, one of eight children, to parents Vivian “Rod” and Agnes (Clark) Rench in Sac City, IA. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sac City where she was confirmed in 1954. JoAnn grew up in Sac City where she attended Sac City Community Schools.
On August 15, 1954, JoAnn married the love of her life, William “Bill” Lents at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sac City. This union was blessed with two sons, James and Mark. Together, Bill and JoAnn raised their family in Sac City. They, along with other family members, worked at Lent’s Cleaners which was established in 1946 by Bill’s parents. JoAnn also worked at her decor shop that was attached to the Lents Cleaners shop and the two of them owned and operated JoAnn’s Janitorial Service. They cleaned for many area businesses and homeowners. Along with that, they co-managed several apartment buildings in Sac City, Storm Lake, Lake City, and Ida Grove.
JoAnn was a go-getter. She was someone who could always be counted on to volunteer, especially at church. Bill was a volunteer firefighter so JoAnn always made time to help with the fire department fundraisers and soup suppers. She was also an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary. JoAnn was an amazing cook and later on in life was the head cook for the Senior Center in Sac City. She enjoyed this position so much. Being able to see all the folks socialize that otherwise were home alone in their elderly years brought her great joy. JoAnn loved crafting and getting together with her card-club friends. She was always known in town for being there to help anyone who needed it.
While JoAnn was very much a community-oriented people-person, she was first and foremost devoted to her family. Her family meant everything to her so in 2018, she decided to move to Spokane to live with her son Mark. There, she was able to spend quality time with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren which brought her so much happiness. JoAnn had a bubbly, full of life personality that everyone enjoyed. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
JoAnn leaves behind her son, Mark Lents of Spokane Valley, WA; grandchildren: Dusty (Paige) Lents, Kale (Alee) Lents, and Jamie Rae Lents all of Spokane Valley, WA; great-grandchildren: Aalyah, Miakota, Kingsley, Kiah, and Paisley Lents; sister Marge Jarvis of Sac City, IA; many extended family members and dear friends.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Lents; son James Lents; mother Agnes Rench; father and stepmother Rod and Marie Rench; siblings: Don Rench, DeLoss Rench, Joyce Bailey, Dale Rench, Lois Bennett, and Fred Rench.
A Memorial Service for JoAnn will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sac City, IA. Burial wil be in the Oakland Cemetery in Sac City under the direction of Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Sac City, IA.
