Groettum, Joanne Marie (Leistikow) Engebretson 1935 - 2015

GROETTUM, LEISTIKOW, ENGEBRETSON, NELSON, EVENRUD, CASTERTON, PATTERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/10/2015 at 15:32:42

Joanne M. (Engebretson) Groettum, age 80 of Edina, MN and formerly of Decorah, IA, died Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at Meadow Woods Memory Care in Bloomington, MN.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 13, 2015 at Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, IA with Pastor Matt Larson officiating. Burial will be in Burr Oak Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday, one hour before the service, at Burr Oak Lutheran Church.

Another local visitation to celebrate the life of Joanne will be held on Wednesday, July 15 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Meadow Woods Memory Care, 1301 East 100th Street, Bloomington, MN 55425.

Joanne Marie (Leistikow) Engebretson Groettum was born on June 2, 1935 at home in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of George Louis Carl and Minnie (Nelson) Leistikow. She was baptized on July 14, 1935 at Fremont Lutheran Church in rural Cresco, IA and confirmed on May 9, 1948 at Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, IA. She graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1953. Joanne then attended Luther College for two years where she received her teaching certificate. She sang in the Nordic Choir at Luther.

Joanne was united in marriage to Conrad O. Engebretson on August 7, 1955 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, MN. This union was blessed with three children: Kathryn Joanne, Thomas Conrad and Maria Louise. They were later divorced.

She later married Rev. Herbert Q. Groettum on August 15, 1999 in Edina, MN.

After graduating from Luther, she taught elementary school in Decorah for two years before staying at home to raise her family. Joanne taught piano in her home in Minneapolis, MN for 18 years and then worked for Fairview Senior Services as a Program Coordinator, helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. She was a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Edina, MN. Her family was a very important part of her life. She loved her garden, was an excellent cook, and loved to bake, especially oatmeal raisin cookies. Music was always a special part of her life, and even in declining health and her final days, music brought her comfort. She is coming home to Burr Oak, where her faith and love of family was instilled in her by her parents.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Kathryn on February 10, 2005; a granddaughter Erin Marie on December 23, 1988; her second husband Herbert on June 16, 2006; and by one nephew Randy Leistikow on October 6, 1990.

Joanne is survived two children: Tom (Marcy) Engebretson of South Haven, MN and Maria Engebretson (Bob Kelly, significant other) of Edina, MN; three grandchildren: Michael Engebretson, Ellen Engebretson (fiance` Ryan Freeman) and Emma Engebretson; two brothers: Donald (Joanne) Leistikow of Decorah and Norman (Marty) Leistikow of Park Rapids, MN; three sisters: Carole (Loren) Evenrud of Cannon Falls, MN, Mary (Charles) Casterton and Doris (Randy) Patterson of Decorah; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.

Joanne’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and caregivers at Meadow Woods Memory Care and Fairview Hospice.

Memorials may be given to the Burr Oak Cemetery Fund, c/o Fjelstul Funeral Home, 306 East Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or to the Fairview Hospice, c/o Fairview Foundation, 2344 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Burr Oak Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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