JoAnn Adams

A Celebration of Life for JoAnn Jelinek Adams was held July 19, 2025, at the Burke Civic Center in Burke, SD, at 2:00 p.m. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements. JoAnn was born December 29, 1940, in Gregory, SD, to Joseph and Martha Jelinek. JoAnn was a student at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parochial School, graduated from Gregory High School in 1960, and attended Stewart School of Hairstyling in Sioux Falls, SD. She was employed by Orvella Drey of Gregory as a beautician and then went to Denver, CO, to work as a stylist specializing in synthetic wigs and hair pieces. JoAnn was a people person, regarding customer service as one of her strong suits and her favorite way to care for others, which helped her excel in a variety of jobs. JoAnn’s work history included cosmetology, counselor for asthmatic children, and Colorado youth correctional counselor.

After traveling through Europe while spending extensive time working in England, JoAnn married David T. Adams in Denver in May of 1971. They had three children, Troy, Haley and Heidi, who were raised in the mountains of Idaho. David T. Adams died in January 2006.

JoAnn had a career as a librarian in Ola, ID and then worked at the Idaho Correctional Center in Boise, ID, as a Librarian for 20 years.

JoAnn will be remembered as a nature enthusiast, herbalist, traveler, and a woman who loved her family.

JoAnn passed away at Swan Falls Assisted Living on January 17, 2025, under the care of hospice in Kuna, ID. She is survived by her daughter, Haley, and son, Troy, and two granddaughters, Josey and Marley. JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, husband David, and her daughter Heidi.