Services for Joan Alexander, 83, who passed away Monday, December 30, 2013 will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F Cemetery. Joan Claire Caskey was born on February 10, 1930 to Clarke and Margret Caskey in Huron, SD. When she was about 3 years old they moved to Indianola, IA where she lived for the rest of her life. She was the fifth of six children. Clifford and Lawrence were older brothers. Lawrence died at age 13. Joan had two older sisters, Nona and Iris and one younger sister, Merry. Joan graduated from high school in Indianola, but rented an apartment with two of her girl friends during her senior year. She worked part time at a dry cleaners to pay her way. Joan continued at the dry cleaners after high school graduation. Lee Hommer was an apprentice at Mike's Body Shop. A mutual friend set them up on a date. They were married on October 3, 1948. They had four children: Danny, Michael, Jane and Tim. In 1958 Lee built a house for Joan at 805 S Howard. For six months the family lived in the basement while Lee and crew finished the upstairs. Keeping that area clean with all the sawdust and plaster dust was quite a chore, but Joan was up to the task! She often remarked that she didn't understand why God gave her a bad back and a need to clean! She took great pride in this house, deep-cleaning one room each day and touching up all the others. Oftentimes after a big family dinner on Sunday, she would run her dishrag over the stove and say "I promise I'll do better tomorrow, Stove." Joan loved children. In addition to raising her own, she helped her sister, Merry, by taking care of her boys while Merry worked. That was the beginning of a long career as a "babysitter". She cared for innumerable children, both day and night. Joan loved every child she met and they responded to her because they knew they were loved. Over the years she attended many graduations and weddings of former "babysitting kids". Joan loved to cook and bake. Many of her recipes, which were not always written down, have been lost. Her sister, Merry, said she could never make pie crust like Joan, because she didn't have a measuring cup that had a crack and you filled it to the crack with flour! Two of the family favorites were spaghetti sauce (NEVER the same twice) and raw apple cake, which no one has been able to duplicate correctly (even though she did have a written recipe for this). Joan and her sister-in-law, Mary Hommer, began making wedding cakes for nieces and nephews in the 1960's. In addition to the wedding cakes, Joan enjoyed making birthday cakes for her grandchildren. Joan also enjoyed sewing and crafts. She made ceramics and candles; she made dolls. Cabbage Patch dolls were in short supply one year, so Joan made them for her granddaughters. She also crocheted Strawberry Shortcake and friends. But above all she enjoyed sewing. She made most of her own clothes as well as Jane's. She often made matching outfits, including poodle skirts for her granddaughters - two different times! During the summer, Joan & Lee enjoyed camping with family. Family meant LOTS of people, generally three generations and included Joan's sisters and their families. After the breakfast dishes were done, which was probably nearly noon because breakfast was a big deal, Joan sat down with her sisters, children and grandchildren to play games. The grandchildren remember the campground as the place they learned to play Rack-o. After Lee died in 1996, Joan was lost. She continued to babysit because she felt so alone. On a trip to Texas in the winter of 1999 with her sisters and their husbands she met Bob Alexander, who was also from Indianola! They had met before when Joan & Lee were visiting Lee's mother in the same nursing home where Bob was caring for his first wife, Bonnie. Joan's best friend from high school was Bob's cousin, Cathy, so they had common bonds already. When Joan & Bob returned from Texas that spring they gathered their children to announce their engagement. It seemed that Bob & Joan were the teenagers and the children were the parents! We were all delighted to welcome Bob into the family. Bob turned Joan's sadness to happiness and she spent the rest of her life with him. Bob loved Joan with an endless love and was with her to the end. His devotion and patience is unparalleled. We know there is a special place in Heaven for you, Bob. Thank you. Survivors include her husband, Bob Alexander; children, Danny (Polly) Hommer, Michael (Lynda) Hommer, Jane (Vince) Bjork and Tim (Lori) Hommer; step-children, Michael (Bonnie) Alexander and Carla (Bob) Brown; sisters, Nona (Don) Willis and Merry (Ray) Stroud; 16 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lee Hommer; brothers, Clifford and Lawrence Caskey; sister, Iris Iddings; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, January 3 at Overton Funeral Home with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com.