Highland, IN – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of JoAnne M. Villa, age 92, who passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 1, 2026.

JoAnne will be deeply missed by her children: sons, Timothy Villa (Michele), and Pete Villa; daughter, Jackie Masters; grandchildren: Tara and Hannah Villa, Evan (Kyria) and Andrew Masters; great-grandchild, Evelyn Masters. JoAnne was preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul Villa; precious son, John Villa; sisters, Inez Dasher and Ordell Yonkovich; parents, August Habeck and Anna Habeck-Fruhwirth (nee Borchert).

JoAnne grew up in Winthrop Minnesota, a small farm town west of Minneapolis. She attended Winthrop High School, where she played the cornet in the marching band and graduated in 1952 with her 29 classmates. She went on to attend the Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester MN, during which she met her husband Paul Villa at a wedding. After completing her nursing program, JoAnne and Paul got married in 1958. In 1960 they would move to Highland IN, where they would buy their family home and go on to raise 4 children.

JoAnne retired at age 70 in 2004 from the Hammond Clinic, where she cared for others as a Nurse with over 40 years of service. She kept up with her life long hobbies well into retirement, which included her love of travel, snow skiing, gardening, photography, and was an avid seamstress. Above all else, JoAnne was a devout Christian Lutheran who loved the Lord. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be remembered for her kind and generous spirit and will be missed by all who knew her.

A Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Solan Pruzin Funeral Home, 14 Kennedy Ave., Schererville, IN from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. A Celebration of JoAnne’s Life will be held at 11:00am on Friday, May 8, 2026, directly at Griffith Lutheran Church, 1000 N. Broad Street, Griffith IN. JoAnne will lie in state at the church from 10:00 AM until time of service. Burial will follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Gary, IN. A luncheon will be hosted at the Griffith Lutheran Church after burial services for loved one’s and friends to honor the life of JoAnne.