JoAnn Elaine Proehl

JoAnn Elaine Proehl, age 72, of Mankato, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023 surrounded by her loving husband and five children in her home. 

Funeral services will be held at 11am, Monday, September 25, 2023 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato. Visitation will begin at 9am. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Mapleton. Please share a memory of JoAnn with her family and view her video tribute at www.mankatomortuary.com. All are welcome to join her celebration of life.

To watch the service via livestream, visit https://boxcast.tv/view/joann-proehl-funeral-v5ytbmcjkqz8iz1s1cl6

JoAnn was born on October 9, 1950 to Roland and Delores (Quint) Osmundson in Mankato, MN.  She was the oldest of four children where she grew up on a farm between Delavan and Mapleton. It’s there her parents taught her that faith is foundational, family is everything, and animals make wonderful companions. She was a doer from a young age, a caretaker to anyone in need, be it her younger siblings, a stray kitten, or a stranger.  

She graduated from Delavan High School in 1968 and went on to attend Beauty School in Mankato. On December 6, 1969, she married Warren Proehl. Together, they raised five children and lived on the Proehl family farm outside of Mapleton for 45 years until retiring in 2014 and moving to Mankato. JoAnn put her beauty schooling to good use by giving haircuts and perms to all of her family and friends. Every fall and spring on the farm, you could find her working in the fields, and cooking and baking to feed her family of seven, along with anyone else who stopped by. On top of that, she kept the busy family schedule running smoothly, encouraging her five children to pursue their passions and interests, no matter how much driving them around that entailed.  

JoAnn maintained strong friendships and was friendly to everyone. Ask anyone who knew her, and they’d all say she had the most beautiful smile. She loved to laugh, and she was always the first to comfort her loved ones when they needed it most. She loved her family with all she had and always said her children and her grandchildren were her greatest accomplishments, bringing her endless joy. JoAnn relished in her role as a grandmother. She found a way to form a special bond with each of her twelve grandchildren, now spanning in age from 26 years old to one year old.  

She used to tell people that her occupation was “Traveling Grandma.”  She loved nothing more than getting on the road to go stay with grandkids for several days or weeks even. Her love languages were gift giving and acts of service. She always came bearing home-baked goodies and little surprises for her grandchildren. She knew what everyone’s favorite sweet treat was. If she wasn’t with her family, she was baking for them and preparing for her next delivery. Whether it was decorating the house with snowmen for the grandchildren to run around and count or putting on the most elaborate Easter egg hunt, she lived for the holidays and a full house.

In addition to being a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, JoAnn was a beloved daughter. As her parents aged, JoAnn split her time between caring for them and caring for her grandbabies. She considered herself lucky to have them and saw helping them as a privilege, never an obligation. JoAnn embodied unconditional love and taught her family what true service looked like. She was our angel here on earth, and now she is our heavenly angel. We know she’s decking the halls for when her loved ones join her in Heaven one day. Our grief is deep because she loved us like no other could.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Warren Proehl of Mankato; son, Adam (Lori) Proehl of Prior Lake MN and their children, Zachary and Kiersten; son, Matthew (Julie) Proehl of Spicer, MN and their children, Joshua, Jenna, Jordan and Jadyn; daughter, Julie (Ryan) Sonnek of Independence, MN and their children, Sophia, Claire, and William; son, Darrick Proehl of Minneapolis, MN; daughter, Emily (Clint) VanHeel of Golden Valley, MN and their children Elsie, Everett, and Calvin. She is also survived by her mother, Delores Osmundson of Mapleton; siblings, Diane (Ron) Lechner of Osage, MN, David (Gwen) Osmundson of Minnesota Lake, MN, and Ron (Sheila) Osmundson of Delavan, MN; sisters-in-law, Ardis (Bruce) Hinds of Ankeny, IA, Ardy Proehl of Ogden, IA, and Arla (Herb) Kintigh of Spencer, IA; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her father, Roland Osmundson; mother-in-law, Elaine Proehl; and father-in-law, Gerald Proehl.