Joann was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, to James Liffie Izard and Anna Jewell Sparks on April 4, 1935. After the death of her father in the spring of 1944, she was blessed with stepfather Robert Benjamin Tankersley in 1947.

At the age of two, Joann moved with her family to Harlingen, Texas. At the age of 16, she was seriously injured in an automobile accident where she nearly lost her life, and spent many months recovering at home under the loving care of her mother. On August 21, 1953, she married George Jackson Alexander and the couple raised their family of three children in south and central Texas.

In her teens, Joann had a great love of roller skating and, as a stay-at-home mom, she enjoyed sewing, crochet, jigsaw puzzles, word search, and playing cards and dominoes with family and friends. She also enjoyed serving in the high school band boosters. Joann received her GED just days before her youngest child graduated high school. After the dissolution of her 32-year marriage, she enjoyed ballroom, swing and country Western dancing. She was an officer and active member in several Austin dance clubs.

Joann is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Beverly Dusek; brother-in-law, Frank Dusek;and ex-husband, George Alexander. 

Joann is survived by her three children, Georgia Alexander, of Webster City, Iowa, April Alexander (James Egbert), of Elgin, and Jim Alexander (Genee’), of Ft. Worth; niece, Ann Massengale (Alan), of Hudson Oaks; six grandchildren, Robert Schauer (Sheena), Ben Schauer, Christina Schauer, Jay Alexander (Stephanie), Jessica Mueller (Billy) and Jeremiah DiFilicia(Ali); as well as 13 great-grandchildren, a great-nephew and a great-niece and their five children.

A celebration of Joann's life will be scheduled in June. Her family would like to acknowledge and thank Elgin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the loving care she received there.Arrangements and care entrusted to Elgin Funeral Home.