1946
Joan
2015
Joan Moerke
January 16, 1946 — October 6, 2015
Joan Meredith (Rice) Moerke, age 69 of Ashby, MN died in her home Tuesday, October 6, 2015.
Joan was born on January 16, 1946 in Milaca, MN to parents Bill and Lorraine (Rosen) Rice. She was raised on a dairy farm and attended high school in Milaca, MN, graduating in 1963. After high school, she moved to the Twin Cities and worked for N.S.P., Gold Bond Stamps, International Harvester and the Federal Reserve Bank as a key-punch operator. She married Robert ("Bob") Moerke on May 1, 1965 in Milaca, MN. The couple moved to Ashby, MN in 1968 and joined the family dairy farm with Bob's parents, Ben & Mildred Moerke. Joan took pride in helping run the dairy farm with Bob and raising their four children. They sold the cows in 2000 and continued to live on the farm. Joan had a dream come true this summer when the entire family joined her in church Sunday morning for the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Joan loved her garden and was an expert canner. Even when she didn't want the work of a garden---she wanted a garden. She was known for her dill pickles and tomato sauces. From the homegrown dill to the perfect sized cucumbers her pickles were sought at every family occasion. Joan also loved feeding people and was passionate about cooking. Numerous cookbooks and treasured recipe cards speckled her kitchen cupboards. She was always willing to share a recipe and would gladly pass down her legacy of cooking. She was fully engaged in her church community and enjoyed many debates with her bible study group. Her passion for accounting and love of being orderly served her well with her church activities and various jobs. She served as church treasurer and was the accountant for Balgaard Services, C & I Automotive, and was active with the Pelican Lake Township serving as secretary on the board. She is survived by her husband, Bob and their four children, Shannon (Lynda) Moerke of Ashby, MN, Yvonne (Dave) DeVito of Mora, MN, Teresa Magnuson of Fergus Falls, MN, Charlotte (Jeff) Nordrum of Rochester, MN, along with grandchildren, Samantha (Karl) Lindquist, Margaret (Adam) Fagre, Morgan and Dylon Moerke, Bobby, Jessica, Sam, Cassie, and Natalie Devito, Reid Magnuson, Thomas and Anna Nordrum, and five great grandchildren. Her siblings, Annette (Alroy) Kessler, Cindy Kessler, Laurie (Brian) Kranze, Jan (Terry) Larsen and Jeff (Jody) Rice. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Lorraine Rice. Visitation: 4PM to 7PM Sunday, October 11 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake with a Prayer Service at 6:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church Funeral: 11AM, Monday, October 12, 2015 at Peace Lutheran Church, Ashby Clergy: Reverend Carol Olson Online Condolences: www.EricksonSmithFH.com Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake is assisting the family with arrangements.
Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Service
Monday, October 12, 2015
cemetery
Monday, October 12, 2015
Joan was born on January 16, 1946 in Milaca, MN to parents Bill and Lorraine (Rosen) Rice. She was raised on a dairy farm and attended high school in Milaca, MN, graduating in 1963. After high school, she moved to the Twin Cities and worked for N.S.P., Gold Bond Stamps, International Harvester and the Federal Reserve Bank as a key-punch operator. She married Robert ("Bob") Moerke on May 1, 1965 in Milaca, MN. The couple moved to Ashby, MN in 1968 and joined the family dairy farm with Bob's parents, Ben & Mildred Moerke. Joan took pride in helping run the dairy farm with Bob and raising their four children. They sold the cows in 2000 and continued to live on the farm. Joan had a dream come true this summer when the entire family joined her in church Sunday morning for the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Joan loved her garden and was an expert canner. Even when she didn't want the work of a garden---she wanted a garden. She was known for her dill pickles and tomato sauces. From the homegrown dill to the perfect sized cucumbers her pickles were sought at every family occasion. Joan also loved feeding people and was passionate about cooking. Numerous cookbooks and treasured recipe cards speckled her kitchen cupboards. She was always willing to share a recipe and would gladly pass down her legacy of cooking. She was fully engaged in her church community and enjoyed many debates with her bible study group. Her passion for accounting and love of being orderly served her well with her church activities and various jobs. She served as church treasurer and was the accountant for Balgaard Services, C & I Automotive, and was active with the Pelican Lake Township serving as secretary on the board. She is survived by her husband, Bob and their four children, Shannon (Lynda) Moerke of Ashby, MN, Yvonne (Dave) DeVito of Mora, MN, Teresa Magnuson of Fergus Falls, MN, Charlotte (Jeff) Nordrum of Rochester, MN, along with grandchildren, Samantha (Karl) Lindquist, Margaret (Adam) Fagre, Morgan and Dylon Moerke, Bobby, Jessica, Sam, Cassie, and Natalie Devito, Reid Magnuson, Thomas and Anna Nordrum, and five great grandchildren. Her siblings, Annette (Alroy) Kessler, Cindy Kessler, Laurie (Brian) Kranze, Jan (Terry) Larsen and Jeff (Jody) Rice. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Lorraine Rice. Visitation: 4PM to 7PM Sunday, October 11 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake with a Prayer Service at 6:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church Funeral: 11AM, Monday, October 12, 2015 at Peace Lutheran Church, Ashby Clergy: Reverend Carol Olson Online Condolences: www.EricksonSmithFH.com Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake is assisting the family with arrangements.
Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531
Previous Events
VisitationSunday, October 11, 2015
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake
116 1st Street NE
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
Prayer Service at 6:30PM
Monday, October 12, 2015
11:00 AM
Peace Lutheran Church of Ashby
306 Larson Avenue
Ashby, MN 56309
Visitation resumes one hour prior to the service.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Pelican Lake Cemetery
Ashby, MN
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