1937 – Joan DeGreeff – 2017
Joan DeGreeff, the daughter of William and Mary (Moritz) Gaul, was born on June 15, 1937 on a farm near Iona, MN. As a toddler they moved to a farm north of Slayton. She attended school in Slayton and graduated from the Slayton High School. Joan then worked at the S&L Store in Slayton. Joan was united in marriage to John DeGreeff on January 23, 1957. After their marriage they lived and farmed near Chandler for a few years until they moved into Chandler in 1960. Joan then worked in the school kitchen and for Huisken’s Meat Center and raised their 5 children. While living there, she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Wilson and belonged to the Chandler American Legion Auxiliary. After the Tornado of 1992, they moved to Slayton, where she became a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of America and the VFW Auxiliary. Joan passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2017 after a courageous battle against cancer at the Murray County Hospice Home in Slayton at the age of 80. She enjoyed attending mass, cooking, baking, sewing quilts for the Ronald McDonald House, traveling and playing cards.
Survivors include her husband, John DeGreeff of Slayton, MN; 5 children, William (Deb) DeGreeff of St. Paul, MN, Mary (Dick) Reitsma of Willmar, MN, Renee (Jeff) Koubsky of Alexandria, MN, Karen (Tim) Teragawa of St. Cloud, MN and Susan (Scott) Myhr of Alexandria, MN; 11 grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce Wynia of Slayton, MN and sister-in-law, Mary Gaul of Slayton, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Richard Gaul, brother-in-law Alfred Wynia and son-in-law, Jeffery Hauser.
Funeral Services were held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Slayton, MN at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 with Fr. Thin Nguyen celebrating. The organist was Judy Andrews. The song leader was Joanne Halbur. The pallbearers are her grandchildren. Interment at St. Ann’s Cemetery Slayton, MN.
The Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton is assisting the family with arrangements. Send condolences online to www.totzkefuneralhome.com.
