JoAnn E. Blaine

JoAnn E. Blaine, 83 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Sunday, November 15, 2015 at the St. Benedict’s Home in St. Cloud, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski, MN with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating, Burial will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M on Wednesday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN and from 10-11 A.M. on Thursday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski, MN. A parish prayer service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. JoAnn was born on November 8, 1932 in Pillager, MN to the late Adolph and Sylvia (Holst) Karlson. She grew up in Pillager, MN where she attended school and graduated with honors from Pillager High School with the class of 1950. After graduation JoAnn went to work at the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis as an office secretary. She was united in marriage to Gerald Blaine on June 30, 1953 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, MN. The couple made their life raising their children on their farm in Culdrum Township. She was a very dedicated mother and very supportive wife. JoAnn also worked out of the house for many years working at various places like, Victor Clothing, Memory Lane Gift Shop, and Munsingwear. In her free time she loved tending to her flowers, listening to classical music, and watching Minnesota sports on TV. JoAnn gave much of her time and talents to the Catholic Church, actively participating in various choir and church groups. JoAnn was very considerate and generous and sponsored several underprivileged children in Central America and Native American reservation in South Dakota. She also gave generously to the Salvation Army and many other non profit organizations. Her Catholic faith was always very strong and she prayed the rosary. JoAnn was a very highly organized and hard working woman who lived her life by, faith, love, perseverance, and self-sacrifice for her family. She was a very sincere, dedicated and genuine wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. Blessed be her memory and may she rest in peace. JoAnn is survived by sons, Bruce (Tammy) of Redwood Falls, MN, Brian (Brenda) of Otsego, MN, Greg (Michelle) of Little Falls, MN, Douglas (fiancé Tracy Nelson) of St. Cloud, MN, and Scott (Jane) of Bloomington, MN; daughters, DiAnn (Dick) Wold of Mendota Heights, Peg Onstott of Lauderdale By The Sea, FL, Suze (Tom) O’Neill of Bloomington, MN, and Kay Blaine-Hall of Lauderdale By The Sea, FL; 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. JoAnn was preceded in death by husband, Gerald Blaine; parents; son-in-law, Jerry Hall; sister, Shirley “Dutch” Carner; and brother, William “Buzzy” Peterson.

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JoAnn E. Blaine

November 8, 1932 - November 15, 2015