On September 28, 2024, Joan Faye Baarsch passed away peacefully with family at her side. She was 94 years old. Born in Durand, Wis., on March 1, 1930, Joan Dale was the youngest of 12 children of Edith Mae (Dimond) and Nat Ervin Dale. She was baptized and confirmed at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Durand and graduated from Durand High School in 1948. Soon after, Joan met Dale Baarsch and left Durand to make a home in Spring Valley, Minn. Joan and Dale were married September 10, 1948, in Waukon, Iowa, at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Dale Baarsch worked as a lineman for Interstate Power Company, but it wasn’t long before they bought an acreage in the country and began farming. Joan and Dale raised four children: Charles, Thomas, Robert and Mary Jo. Joan may not have attended college, but that did not stop her from becoming the bookkeeper and business manager for the hog farm that Dale and she built from the ground up, with the help of their children. Working side-by-side on the farm was what Joan loved more than anything. However, it wasn’t all work and no play for Joan. She and Dale had many close friends in Spring Valley and together they loved to play jokes on one another, dance, and take trips. After 46 years of marriage, Dale lost his battle with cancer in 1994. After some time on her own, Joan reconnected with a high school classmate, Robert Castleberg, and they were married December 9, 1997, and Joan relocated to the Madison, Wis., area. When Joan’s health began to falter, she returned to Minnesota and in 2018 moved to Spring Valley Living, where she remained until her death.
For fun, Joan loved fishing for walleye, camping, birding and going south in the winter. And sports… whether it be the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Twins, Brewers, or the Wisconsin Badgers – she could tell you anything you wanted to know about the players and the teams.
But most of all, Joan loved her kids and was a tremendous role model for what the rewards of hard work, integrity and responsibility can deliver in life.
Joan was preceded in death by her first husband Dale Baarsch and second husband Robert Castleberg.
She is survived by her sister Joyce; children Charles (Debra) Baarsch, Thomas (Sharon) Baarsch, Robert (Kathy) Baarsch, and Mary Jo (David) Kiehn; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Joan’s family invites you to join them in a time of celebration of her life. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 5 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minn., with the associate pastor officiating, Rev. Mamy Ranaivoson. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. prior to the start of the service at the church. Joan will be laid to rest at Frankford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 805 S. Broadway Ave. or Spring Valley Living at 800 Memorial Dr., Spring Valley, Minn. 55975.
Online condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
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