Joan E. Grueneich

Joan Ethel Grueneich passed away on December 27, 2017, at Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 10:30am at St. Helena’s Catholic Church, Ellendale with Fr. Asselin officiating. Burial will follow at St. Helena’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 3–7pm at Hoven Funeral Chapel followed by the rosary at 7pm. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Joan was born January 1, 1934, to Clarence Lee and Ethel (Reilly) Gibson in Aberdeen, SD. She attended Sacred Heart Parochial School and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School. After graduation from high school, Joan worked for Bell Telephone in Aberdeen for 3 years. While at Bell Telephone, Joan and her friends would drive around with jars of pickles for entertainment after work. She met the love of her life at Tacoma Park in Aberdeen. Joan was united in marriage to Marvin Grueneich on February 9, 1955, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen. Their union was blessed with two children, Russell and Tari. The family made their home on the farm near Ellendale. Joan attended UND, Ellendale Branch. In addition to being a farm wife and mother, Joan was employed at Crabtree Insurance where she worked for 40 years. She was also a Mary Kay consultant for many years. Joan was an active member of St. Helena’s Catholic Church in Ellendale and was a member of St. Helena’s Altar Society. Joan was a member of the Red Hat Society in Ellendale. Joan had an eye for fashion and could be found shopping in her spare time. Joan loved to sit in the screen house where she read the paper and enjoyed a cup of coffee, listened to the birds sing and watched the wildlife play. Joan was a very kind and caring person who always found the good in everyone. Joan’s faith filled life revolved around her love for family and friends. Joan cherished her children and grandchildren. She treasured spending time with them and following their many activities. Blessed to have shared in Joan’s life are her spouse, Marvin, her children, who were her pride and joy, Russell (Joyce) Grueneich, Ellendale, ND and Tari Elsperger, (Joel Aberle), Aberdeen, SD; seven grandchildren: Justin Grueneich, Jami (Josh) Svor, Jarami VanWagner, Lindsay (Mike) Oleson, Joesph Elsperger, Libbi (Alex) Schuett & Jordan Elsperger; great grand-children: Carson and Carter Svor, Destiny, Trinity and Connor VanWagner, Zander and Ember Schuett, one brother, Carroll (Marj) Gibson, Aurora, CO; and several nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, great-grandson, Benjamin VanWagner, sister, Alice Schmidt, brother, Roy Gibson, and sister-in-law, Cynthia Gibson.