Joan Bloemke

Joan Alice Bloemke, age 92, of Waseca, MN, passed away on June 6, 2020, at Woodstone Senior Living in Hutchinson, MN. A private family service will be held in Springfield, MN. Joan was born in Brookville Township, Redwood County, MN, to Arthur W. and Pearl (Fredericksen) Johnson on 11/30/1927. She attended country school in rural Evan, MN, followed by high school in Morgan, MN, graduating with the Class of 1945. She then graduated from the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis in 1946. While attending business school Joan met Raymond (Bud) Bloemke and they were married on August 9, 1947, in Edina, MN. In 1949, she and Bud moved to Springfield, MN, where they took over the family business and began family life. Joan was a full- time, wonderful mother to four children. As a young mother, two of her children were diagnosed with polio. She overcame those challenges with courage and grace, never overwhelmed by the burden she faced. She worked as an assistant to the City Clerk for the City of Springfield. Her family moved to Marshall, MN, in 1966, as Bud's career changed. Their time in Marshall was brief but they made great friends and future family members. She worked as the bookkeeper for LaVogue Ladies Clothing. Their final move was to Waseca, MN, in 1971. Joan worked several years at E.F Johnson Company as a sales secretary until her retirement. In their retirement, she and Bud enjoyed a game of golf with family and friends. She loved to play any card game and especially looked forward to games with her family. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor kept everyone laughing. Family meant everything to Joan and she was their rock. She was proud of her Danish heritage and sharing stories of growing up. Joan enjoyed golfing, embroidery and found enjoyment in painting flowers, birds and landscapes. She loved sitting in her porch surrounded by beautiful flowers. She and Bud enjoyed the winter months traveling and eventually put down winter roots in Texas. Joan is survived by her daughter: Barbara (Jim) Jabrosky of Hayward WI, and three sons: Douglas (Kathleen) Bloemke of Winona, MN, Dean (JoAnn) Bloemke of Buffalo Lake, MN and Daniel (Deborah) Bloemke of Lakeville, MN. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Samara Eisner, Nicolle Tober, Adam Bloemke, Benjamin Bloemke, Roman Bloemke, Sarah Work, Shannon Kour and Joseph Bloemke, 11 great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brother-in- law Richard (Lucille) Bloemke of Belmond, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ray, and her sister, Marilyn Sandmann. "Dear God, I want to take a minute not to ask for anything from you, but simply to say, thank you for our Mom!" _ Interment Information St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Springfield Address not given Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087