02/13/2025
Joan “Mariah” Von Stein
No Dogma Allowed. ~Favorite Quote
November 30th, 1947 – February 13th, 2016

Joan L. "Mariah" Von Stein wore many hats during her 68 years. She was an
important spiritual leader in the community and provided nurturing and
support through her retail shop and counseling over the past two decades.
Among her many interests and callings were politics, historic preservation,
Jungian psychology, old world religions, herbalism, gardening, astrology,
and drumming. She was an extraordinary mentor, counselor, teacher,
mother, grandmother and friend.
She was born November 30th, 1947, to Paul Alan Emmeck and Lenore
Elizabeth Peters near Jefferson, Iowa. Joan's family moved with her father's
hospitality career to several Iowa towns during her childhood. She
graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1966.
Joan earned her BA degree from Drake University in the early 1970's while
raising two young boys as a single mother. After graduating, she worked
with the Iowa Women's Political Caucus in the mid-1970's. She then went
on to run for political office in 1978, open an antique lighting store, and
publish the Iowa Legislative News Service in the early 80's. During this same
time, Joan was one of the pioneering forces behind the historic designation
and preservation of the Sherman Hill Neighborhood.
Her passion for Carl Jung's teachings took her to San Francisco's California
Institute of Integral Studies in the 1990's where she achieved a Masters in
East-West Psychology and practiced Wicca in the Reclaiming tradition with
her mentor and friend, the writer and earth activist Starhawk.
She returned to Des Moines and started Ancient Ways, an eclectic
bookstore and counseling center. During the past 18 years, she enriched the
Des Moines community by introducing herbalism, African drumming, Jungbased personal counseling, and classes in many ancient practices. She was
also an ordained minister and priestess. This included working with women
at the Mitchellville Correctional Facility.
Her friends fondly remember her gliding walk, her generous wisdom, and
her voice. She had an aesthetic sense which gave her extraordinary abilities
when it came to gardening and creating beautiful spaces. Mariah was truly
unique and will be missed by many.
She passed from this life on February 13, 2016. Joan was preceded in death
by her sisters Ruth and Donna, her mother, and her father. Surviving
immediate family include sons Todd and Darrin Von Stein; grandsons
Michael and Noah Von Stein along with their mother, Jill; sister Norma Jontz
and her husband Dewey; nephew Craig Jontz; and niece Debbie (Jontz)
Mazza. Also surviving are many friends and community members who
supported and loved her.
Memorial Donations
She asked that memorial contributions be made to:
Jon Anderson White Memorial, Habitat, Wildlife and Meditation Garden
c/o West Bank
1601 22nd St
Ste 100
West Des Moines, IA 50266
May the air carry your spirit gently.
May the fire release your soul.
May the water wash you clean of pain and suffering and sorrow.
May the earth receive you.
May the wheel turn again and bring you to rebirth.
“Breathe deep.”
When leading into an interpretation through the Jungian slant of any conversation at hand, Mariah would say, “It seems to me…”
When asked about an individual, Mariah stated: “I think they’re diagonally parked in a parallel universe.”
When coming into the shop needing some grounding, Mariah would say, “Let’s step into my office.”
She loved the Oscar Wilde saying, “Nothing succeeds like excess.”
“I was thinking that if we try it this way… Or perhaps we could try this instead. I was hoping that… Oh well. What a splendid idea. Let’s try it. “
“I believe the possibilities are endless.”
As a way of reframing self-judgments, Mariah stated:, “ I would have preferred to…” rather than I should have… or I am bad because I said or did…
“My self- esteem would be much lower without this wisdom.”
“I have found that if I come up against a problem, if I look deep the answer is always there. We just have to learn to listen to our intuition like our ancestors did
years ago.”
“Oh well.”
