Joan B. Peka

Joan B. Peka, 86 year old resident of Coon Rapids, MN, formerly of Little Falls, MN, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2024, at her residence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, MN with a visitation one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Belle Prairie. Caring for Joan and her family is LeMieur Funeral Home in Little Falls. Joan Barbara Bortke was born on February 28th, 1938, in South St. Paul, MN to the late Casper and Mary( Zehoski) Bortke. When she was 13 years old, the family moved to Sobieski, Minnesota, where she attended Little Falls schools until the 10th grade. Joan left school and moved to the Cities to work at Pearson’s Candy, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the age of 22, she was united in marriage to Everett Peka on July 9th, 1960 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls. The couple moved to Coon Rapids, where they raised their three kids, Kathy, Colleen and Michael. Joan worked at Burger King for 37 years. She enjoyed cooking, canning and making pierogies. She loved Dennis the Menace, and TLC, Western, and Polka channels. Joan’s favorite music artists included, Jimmy Buffet “Margaritaville”, Ferlin Husky “Gone”, Johnny Cash Sunday Morning Coming Down and A Mother’s Love”, and Pink Floyd, the Oldies. Joan adored her grandkids, Kyle, Shane, Staci, as well as her great-granddaughter, Allison. She was also so excited to welcome a great-grandson coming in January of 2025. Joan was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and will be dearly missed. She is survived by her children, Kathleen Egan; Colleen (Terry) LeBlanc; Michael (Julie Bartkowitz) Peka; grandchildren, Kyle Egan, Shane (Melissa Tieg) LeBlanc; Staci LeBlanc; great-grandchildren, Allison LeBlanc, and another baby boy on the way; and sibling, GeGe LeBlanc. She was preceded in death by her parents, Casper and Mary Bortke; husband, Everett; sisters, Marlene Peka, Barbara ‘Bobbie’ Beckers; and son-in-law, Tony Egan.

Tributes

Joan B. Peka

February 28, 1938 - September 9, 2024