Joan Barbara Wilmes

Joan Barbara Wilmes, age 89, of Mankato passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, after suffering a stroke on November 2nd. 

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., on Friday, November 15, 2024, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mankato with visitation two hours prior. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Livestream of the funeral will be available at www.mankatomortuary.com. 

Joan was born March 20, 1935 to Joseph and Augusta (Rusch) Wiese and raised in East St. Paul. She attended Sacred Heart Church and School. When considering becoming a nun, her parents agreed that she could attend Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, as a boarder. She graduated in 1954. During her senior year, she met her beloved, Larry, and the rest is history. While Larry served in the U.S. Army for 2 years, Joan worked as a keypunch operator at St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Larry and Joan were married at Sacred Heart Church in St. Paul on August 10, 1957. After living for two years in St. Paul, they moved to Mankato and lived in the house that Larry built for them. Joan also loved caring for her extended family of grandchildren and provided daycare for her godchild, Jessica. She had fond memories of singing in the choir at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. She also taught religious education for nearly 30 years. When her children were grown, she enjoyed cleaning the church and rectory. She always had a special place in her heart for Good Counsel, later becoming an associate and volunteering “on the hill”. She was proud to say that, throughout her life, she was always taught by religious members, specifically, School Sisters of Notre Dame. She especially enjoyed watching EWTN and praying the rosary. She moved to Generations Child and Memory Care in April of 2023, where she enjoyed seeing children and meeting caring staff, who brought a smile to her face. Spending time with family brought her so much joy and she looked forward to daily visits from them. Joan was also grateful for her friend, Shirley Pestka, who brought her communion and prayed with her weekly. 

Joan is survived by her children, Tim (Renee) of Madison Lake, Larry “Larc” (Liz), Ron (Jean) of Mankato, Rita (Dave) Vogler of Eagle Lake, John (Shari), and Connie (Al) Wodtke of Mankato; grandchildren, Hollie, Heather (Graham), Justin (Tina), Jennifer (Ken), Nicole (Tyrel), Rachel (Brandon), Andrew, Tiffany (Tyler), Kaylee (Chisomo), Jeremy, and Taylor (Jennifer); great-grandchildren Marisa (Brandon), Holden, Gabriel, Meleah, Weston, Caleb, Zaiden, Newton, Thomas, Sutherlyn, Nahla, Gavyn, Lauren, Chloe and Iris; great-great grandchild, Violet; brother-in-law, R. Paul Wilmes; sisters-in-law, Marlene Wilmes, Jean Wilmes, and Judy (Dick) Stuve, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Laurence “Larry”, in 2005; son, Benjamin, born into Heaven, in 1978; parents, Joseph and Augusta Wiese; siblings and their spouses, Geraldine (George) Stout, Fr. Miro [Donald] Wiese OFM, and Joseph “Junior” (Frances) Wiese. 

Memorials preferred to Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and EWTN.

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