JoAnn was born, raised and educated in Kewanee Illinois to Lillian and Clarence Stuart. When she was 13 years old her father passed away. Lillian later married George Nelson and he is the father she remembered. JoAnn was an only child.
On JoAnn's 18th birthday, she married Jack Burnett (10/11/1952). They had four children, Kathleen, Tana, Jack and Debbie, together they traveled the world as a military family, moving from Country to Country and State to State. Jack retired from the Army in 1971 and they moved back to Galva Illinois.
They have seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and although they haven't met most of them, their love is a part of each of them.
JoAnn was a great cook and many of her family recipes have been passed down and taught to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.