Ivan Joens
The above picture came from the Homemaker's club.
In 2012 I scanned the Manning Homemaker's Club scrapbook and in it was a military section with several Veteran pictures and items.

Serial Number 17078136; Enlisted Fort Crook, Nebraska, and began active duty on July 9, 1942

Ivan was inducted into the Army on July 5, 1942. He trained at Camp Swift, Texas; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He left the United States in September of 1943 for Australia (stationed there for four months) before serving as a platoon leader in the South Pacific. He served in New Guinea, Admiralties Island, Philippine Campaign, Okinawa Campaign and Japan. He received the Bronze Star, CBI and the Philippine Campaign Medal. 1st Lieutenant Joens was discharged February 1946. He returned to active duty for seventeen years and then retired.

First Lieutenant Ivan Joens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Joens, has written his parents about conditions as found by American troops in the Philippines. He states that the people in the Philippines have suffered many hardships under the Japs and that conditions are the same on all these islands. Most of their houses are bamboo huts and some have board walls; in other words, a poor chicken house in the United States. There were some good houses but they are all run down.
Carroll Times Herald, March 16, 1945

Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943

Now At Camp Forrest, Tenn. Lt.
Ivan Joens has sent us his new address for the Monitor, now being stationed at Camp Forrest, Tenn., in the cavalry.
Prior to being shipped to Camp Forrest he spent about 3 weeks at the Cavalry Replacement Training Center in the cavalry officers pool, going to an S-3 school.

Officers Candidate School
Ft. Riley, Kans.-Pvt. First Class Ivan Joens, Route 3, Manning, Ia. has entered the Officer Candidate School here.
Upon successful completion of the three month course of instruction, he will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Calvary.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1945

First Lieutenant Ivan Joens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Joens, has written his parents about conditions in the Philippines. He states that the natives have suffered many hardships under the Japs.
No repairs had been made, roads were bad, telephone and electric wires were laying loose over the land.

People have nothing left and clothes are rags, and no shoes.
Food is scarce, most of it being taken by the Japs, and homes are destroyed or run down and it will, take a very long time to get things restored to peacetime ways again.
He states that he is getting along quite well.

Ivan Joens, Sr. of Waukee, Iowa 1921 - 2016

Ivan Joens Sr., 95, formerly of Anita, Iowa, died December 4, 2016, at his home in Waukee, Iowa.
Ivan was born in Manning, Iowa, on July 5, 1921, the son of Henry and Ida (Schroeder) Joens of rural Manning.

Ivan enlisted in 1942 and served in World War II, fighting with the First Calvary in the Philippines and Japan. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery in action. His Army career took him to military bases throughout the U.S., Japan and twice to Germany.

Ivan and Betty Karns met square dancing in Elk Horn, Iowa, then married in Tennessee, on September 3, 1943. They had four children, Ivan Jr., Terry, Jerry, and Angela.

After retiring in 1973 from the US Army and while living in Anita, Ivan became head bus driver for the Anita Schools. The kids gave him the nickname, Driven Ivan. To this day the family still has people tell them he was their favorite bus driver. He also worked part time for the Anita Lumber Company.

Ivan enjoyed going to Burger King and McDonalds with his wife to meet up with their friends. This became a part of their daily routine. He loved tinkering around in his garage and enjoyed working on clocks. He became very creative with how he fixed things. Ivan liked watching The National Geographic channel, Lawrence Welk Show, and WHO. The way to Ivan's heart was with a bowl of ice cream, waffles, pie or anything sweet. Ivan loved spending time with his grandchildren. He loved having three of his grandchildren grow up next door to him and was able to attend all of their school functions. He became a huge role model and supporter to them.

Ivan will be remembered for his sense of humor and quick wit. His family will also always remember his advice on how to live a long healthy life as, "good, clean living."

He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty, who died in 2005; and his brothers, Lester and Allen Joens. Surviving him are his children, Angela Hagen and her husband, Jeff, both of whom cared for Ivan since his wife's death; and his sons, Ivan Jr., Terry and Jerry "Skip" Joens.

Friends and family may call at the Anita Methodist Church, Anita, Iowa, on Thursday, December 8, 2016, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. when the family will be present.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016, at the Anita Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Memorials in his honor will be donated to organizations that support veterans and their families.

Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Homes of Atlantic in charge of services.