Joann Estle was born at Washington County Hospital and raised on the family farm southeast of Haskins where her ancestors settled in the1800s. She graduated from Ainsworth High School and she and her husband Don farmed and raised three daughters in the Conesville area. Joann taught middle school Language Arts for 24 years at Columbus Community Schools, retiring in 2004. Don worked at University of Iowa and Washington County Hospitals and Clinics, retiring in 2003. They especially enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren, two of whom live in Keota and travel to school with Estles' daughter who teaches art at Washington Junior High School. Joann describes herself as a "hopeless book-a-holic" and she often can be found browsing the new fiction and nonfiction shelves; husband Don regularly reads newspapers in the reading room. Joann has served on the Washington Free Public Library Board of Trustees and the foundation since July 2003.