Obituary – Ruth “Joan” Rinehart
Ruth “Joan” Rinehart, daughter of Glenn and Mabel (Butler) Lesan, was born October 13, 1929, in a beautiful farm home in the area that is known as “Lesanville”, near Mount Ayr, Iowa. She was welcomed home by two doting brothers, Robert “Bob” and Rex Lesan. Joan died on Monday, February 23 at Clearview Home at the age of 96 years and 4 months.
Joan graduated with the class of 1948 from Mount Ayr High. Following graduation, she was employed as secretary to the superintendent of schools for one year. On June 12, 1949, Joan was united in marriage to Park Rinehart; a union that lasted almost 71 years. It would be hard to find a couple more devoted to each other than Park and Joan. To this union, two sons were born: Neil Evan in 1951 and Lynn Eric in 1954. She dedicated her life to being a devoted housewife, farmwife and spoiler of grandchildren.
Joan was a proud member of PEO and a long-time member of the United Methodist Church. She was an excellent cook, tended beautiful flower gardens, and never tired of being the all-time pitcher when her grandkids wanted to play ball. Park and Joan were avid fans of all things Neil and Lynn and rarely missed any event their sons participated in.
Joan was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Park in 2020, her parents, Glenn and Mabel Lesan, parents-in-law, Verne and Nina Rinehart, her brothers and spouses, Bob and Lorraine Lesan and Rex and Betty Lesan, sisters and brothers-in-law Hope and Billy Wyman and Iris and Gary Webb, brother and sister-in-law Bill and June Rinehart, and infant granddaughter, Keely Brianne Rinehart.
Joan is survived by her sons, Neil and wife Sheila of Plano, Texas and Lynn and wife Kathy of Mount Ayr, her beloved grandchildren: Allison (Justin) Billodeau of Austin, Texas, Matt (Lorraine) Rinehart of Celina, Texas, Korbie Rinehart of Mount Ayr and Tanner (Tess) Rinehart of Kellerton; and her great grandchildren Greyson and Grant Billodeau, Sully and Keely Powell, Harper Rinehart, Clyde, Ike and Quinn Rinehart. Joan is also survived by her sister-in-law Marilyn Lesan along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Joan Rinehart’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all those who know and loved her.
Services were held 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2026, at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Pastor Terry Roberts officiated, and Korbie Rinehart gave the eulogy. Casketbearers were Tanner Rinehart, Korbie Rinehart, Matt Rinehart, Allison Billodeau, Troy Lesan, Jim Wilson. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials are to the Judge Lewis Park and Princess Theater, both in Mount Ayr.
