JoAnn Vaughn, 79, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Centerville Care Center in Centerville, SD. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, February 6, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home - Downtown Chapel (507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls). The family will greet friends for visitation from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 5, 2026, also at the funeral home.

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JoAnn Patricia (Paul) Vaughn was born October 6, 1946, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Fay Paul and Eleanor (Herring) Paul. She attended grade school at Lakeview 110 in Wall Lake, SD, and Mount Pleasant 92 in Humboldt, SD. She then graduated from Montrose High School in Montrose, SD, in 1965. She was lovingly known as "Snickelfritz" by her older brother, Dennis.
In 1965, JoAnn married Jim McCaw in Hartford, SD. From that union came 3 children. She then married Frank Vaughn on April 16, 1977, in Sioux Falls, SD. Then from that union came 2 children.
JoAnn lived in many places throughout her years. She lived North of Humboldt on a family farm for 18 years. She then got married and moved to Sioux Falls, SD. From there, she bounced around from Humboldt, SD, Pierre, SD, and then lived the rest of her life out in Centerville, SD. Some of her careers included being a waitress, a truck driver, and owning 2 restaurants. JoAnn waitressed at Ramkota Hotel in Pierre, SD, for 10 years and at Maria's Mexican Restaurant in Centerville, SD, for 7 years. The 2 restaurants she owned were in Humboldt, SD, with her husband Frank Vaughn for 8 years from 1984 to 1992. The other restaurant she owned in Crooks, SD, was with her son-in-law from 2004 to 2007. She also did stage work at the Sioux Falls Arena, where she set up the stage for concerts and ran spotlights for the concerts and circuses.
She enjoyed doing a lot of things, from eating coffee cookies and drinking coffee to spending time with her family and friends. Some of the things she enjoyed were fishing, visits to Yankton, SD, watching game shows, and playing solitaire. When she was younger, she really enjoyed roller skating at Wall Lake Roller Rink.
Being able to bake goods for family members was an important part of her life. She loved to spend time with family and friends, and no matter who you were, she made sure to stand at the fence and wave you goodbye. While sitting outside playing solitaire, she also loved to keep up on the latest details.
JoAnn is survived by 2 brothers, Larry Paul of Montrose, SD and Dennis (Rita) Paul of Edmond, OK; 2 sons, Jeff (Tina) McCaw of Sioux Falls, SD and Bob Vaughn of Centerville, SD; 2 daughters, Jeanie Heezen (Kenny Kayser) of Emery, SD and Pattie (Ron) Meyer of Centerville, SD; 7 grandchildren, Kaylyn (Reid) Nutley of Tea, SD, Brittany (Jacob) Eddy of Groton, SD, Kori (Anthony) Jaeger of Bridgewater, SD, Haley (Trent) Herrboldt of Centerville, SD, Blake Meyer of Beresford, SD, Mackenzie (Jac) Meyer of Scotland, SD, and Grant Meyer of Centerville, SD; nephew, David (Becky) Paul of Phoenix, AZ; special friend, Fred Kuil of Corsica, SD; brother-in-law, Jerry McCaw of Hartford, SD; 9 great-grandchildren; as well as step-children, step-grandchildren, and step-great grandchildren; and many other special friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Vaughn; infant daughter, Jean Marie; parents, Fay and Eleanor Paul; nephew, Scott Paul; and step-daughter, Carol Harlin.