Joan Marie Cheney, age 70, of Austin, Minn., died Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin. Joan was born on March 10, 1953, to Orville and Irene (Hesby) Hanson in Mabel, Minn. She graduated from Mabel High School in 1971. Later that year Joan married Henry “Hank” Cheney on August 14, 1971, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minn. She worked as a cook at the Preston Nursing Home and also at the Lansing Post Office. She was a member of Scheie Lutheran Church in Mabel, Minn., and Brownsdale United Methodist Church. She liked to watch Peace and Power on Sunday morning. Joan’s passion in life was taking care of people; she had a Chore Program where she would help people run errands, help them clean and do tasks that they needed help with. She enjoyed sewing, traveling and collecting, she had many collections including her lighted village houses, dolls, plates and cardinal figurines. She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.
Joan is survived by her son Michael Cheney of Austin, siblings Ione Selness of Spring Grove, Alan (Becky) Hanson of Rushford and Dale (Carol) Hanson of St. Charles; sister-in-law Janice Welch of Rochester, stepsiblings Russ Wilson of Hoover, Ala., and A.G. III (Audrey) Wilson of Gilette, Wyo.; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents Orville and Irene Hanson, husband Henry “Hank” Cheney in 2011, brothers Ordell Hanson, Curtis (Marcella) Hanson and Dennis Hanson; sister Norma (Willard) Johnson, brothers-in-law Grant Selness and Freeman Welch, sister-in-law Charlotte Wilson, and stepsister Ann Durst.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Worlein Funeral Home. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. The burial will be in the Scheie North Cemetery in Mabel, Minn. Joan’s family requests that you wear your Sunday casual. Memorials preferred to Scheie Lutheran Church in Mabel, Minn., or Brownsdale United Methodist Church. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.
Ingrid Matthews says
Joan was one of the most wonderful persons I have ever met. I could never hope to meet a person who offered others – including myself, my husband Wayne, and our family more love and friendship. We reconnected in recent years (after moving away from Minnesota in 1976). It seemed nothing had changed in regard to the friendship we expressed and felt for one another. But then, I believe that Joan was so good to others that she made everyone feel that way. She has been a blessing to all who have known her.
Michael, we are deeply sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you with love and prayers in our hearts and so grateful your mother, your father — and you — were a very special part of our lives.