Joanne (Bane) McKay was born on October 22, 1954 in Des Moines Iowa to parents Robert and Anne Bane, and grew up on the family farm just south of Pleasantville, Iowa with her parents and brother.

Joanne attended elementary, junior high, and high school at Pleasantville until graduating from Pleasantville High School in 1972. She attended the Pleasantville Christian Church with her family; joining the church in her early teen years. Joanne was active in 4H, church youth group and music, learning to play piano and playing clarinet in the school band.

After high school, Joanne attended Northeast Missouri State University, earning a degree in Business Administration and later earned a degree in Art Education from Simpson College. On February 20, 1983, Joanne gave birth to her son, Daniel Hancock. After graduating from Simpson, Joanne and Daniel moved to Algona, Iowa and she taught Art in the North Kossuth school district. While teaching there, she also introduced new programs to teach the students about foreign cultures. After Daniel graduated from high school in 2001, she moved to Fairfield, Iowa and later back to Pleasantville to be close to her parents on the farm.

Joanne held several interesting jobs over the years including working with refugees at Lutheran Services in Iowa – Des Moines Refugee Center and later doing clerical work at the Johnston, Hicks, Guiter and Griffith Law Firm in Knoxville, Iowa.

In 2009, Joanne was married to Dwight McKay. Joanne and Dwight made many trips to Bolivia where he still had friends from his previous work with the Peace Corps. She loved the people and culture of Bolivia and developed many friendships and memories there. They remained close to her parents, assisting them greatly in their final years.

Joanne was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her arts and crafts, knitting, crocheting, and flower gardening. She was the expert on Bane family history, tracing ancestors back to Scotland. She could name every tree, shrub and flowering plant on the home place that her mother, grandmother or great-grandmother had planted. She loved attending Iowa State football and basketball games with her brother. She played piano at Fairview Christian Church for many years, which motivated her to carry on even as her health failed.

Joanne passed away peacefully on September 19, 2026, at the age of 71 at the Comfort House in Pella, Iowa.

Joanne was preceded in death by her grandparents John and Alwilda Campbell and Tommy and Pauline Bane, her parents, Robert and Anne Bane and her son, Daniel Hancock.

She is survived by her husband Dwight McKay, her brother Al Bane; Wyatt and Campbell family cousins and their families and a multitude of friends.

Joanne will always be remembered for her sweet, caring personality, her undying devotion to family and friends, and living a courageous life. She was a faithful Christian her entire life.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”