Joanne danced her way into heaven on June 29, 2023. She was born December 10, 1932, to Milford and Ruby (McMillen) Johnson in La Crosse, Wis. Joanne was baptized in Mabel on August 20, 1933. She spent her early years living in La Crescent and Rushford areas before her family settled outside of Canton, Minn. She graduated from Canton Public Schools in 1950.
Joanne was united in marriage to Allan Lange of Harmony on January 6, 1952. They raised their two sons, Michael and Kevin, in Carimona Township and later moved to Preston. The were members Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. Joanne worked administrative jobs in Preston including the Farm Bureau Office, Thompson Abstract Office and a career at F&M Bank in Preston, where she always stopped in to say hello when back for a visit.
In 1982, Joanne and Allan moved to Bryan-College Station, Tex., and later divorced. She was very proud of her administrative assistant position at Texas A&M College until she retired in 1999. She was always proud to be an Aggie and showed her support by sending Aggie gear to her grandchildren in Minnesota.
Peace Lutheran Church in College Station and its congregation held a very special place in Joanne’s heart. She assisted with proofreading the weekly bulletins and many other tasks. Joanne’s baking was a big part of the church’s annual fundraiser – with her rhubarb pies sales making up a large portion of the profit. Her love of music and dance became a passion that filled up her free time, and she would dance for hours to a variety of music. Her love for plays led to a huge collection of play bills as a regular at a theater in College Station that had an unwritten rule that they did not resume the play if Joanne was not back from intermission.
In April, Joanne made a move back to Minnesota to spend her last chapter with her family. This time was shorter than we had hoped, but we are so thankful for this time together.
Joanne is survived by her children Michael (Valerie Vance) Lange of Steilacoom, Wash., Kevin (Wendy) Lange of Harmony, Minn., and former daughter-in-law Laurie Bacon of Preston; her four grandchildren: Kari Bacon (Jason Wright) of Fountain, Shane Bacon of Minneapolis, Kayla (Nick) Peterson of Preston and Trevor (Taylor) Lange of Chatfield; seven great-grandchildren: Bodey and Boston Wright, Hailey Hammill, Carter and Aubrey Lange, and Emry and Alden Peterson; her brother Ivan (Sharon) Johnson of Hutchinson, and brother-in-law Ken (Sharon) Kiehne of Harmony.
She is preceeded in death by her parents, her late husband Allan Lange, sisters Nancy Watts Williams and Sally Johnson, brother-in-law Ron Kiehne and sisters-in-law Karen Kiehne and Betty Kiehne.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 14, at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, followed by a luncheon. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the church prior to the funeral. A private burial will be held at a later date in Hesper Public Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Joanne’s friends in Texas that played a pivotal role in her care there and her move back to Minnesota, Chosen Valley Care Center and Season’s Hospice for the care they provided daily for Joanne and support they showed her family and friends.
Chris Hoffman says
Joanne was such a sweet and kind person. I regret not getting to see her much these past few years after COVID happened. I always loved seeing her in the audience of performances I was a part of in Bryan/College Station, Texas, and her kind words and support after performances will be ones that I will remember fondly. I will miss You, Joanne. Heaven has indeed gained another beautiful soul.