Joan Marie Longhenry

Joan Marie Longhenry was born on May 16th, 1970, in Ortonville, MN to Jerry and Anne (Ninneman) Longhenry. She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Nassau, MN and confirmed at Hazel Run Lutheran Church in Hazel Run, MN. She graduated from Clarkfield High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University—Mankato under a discus and shotput scholarship, for which she was naturally gifted at and went to state for. Having been raised with four brothers, she could hold her own and wasn’t afraid to get rough and tough with the boys.

After graduation, Joan spent ten years at Valleyfair in Shakopee managing all the park’s food stands, a job that brought people from countries all over the globe into her life, fostering lifelong friendships for which she traveled as far as Lithuania to visit. After spending time in a variety of endeavors in Mankato after her years at Valleyfair, Joan settled into her most recent careers at Micro Dynamics in Montevideo and teaching at the school in Dawson.

Joan cherished her family, particularly her daughters and grandchildren, and was the organizational force behind the Longhenry family reunions. She loved babies, plants, drawing and coloring, and could have an honorary degree in criminal justice after watching all 19 seasons of NCIS multiple times over. Joan was also a dice aficionado and will be remembered for her infamous mantra “Don’t touch my dice!”

On Monday, July 11th, 2022, at the age of 52, Joan passed away surrounded by her family at Prairie Home Fieldcrest in Cottonwood after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She is preceded in death by her father, Jerry Longhenry; paternal grandparents, William & Violet Longhenry; maternal grandparents, George & Lillian Ninneman; uncles, Lyle and David Longhenry, and an aunt, Betty Veilleux.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Jackie & Julianna Overton, and Isabella Longhenry; mother, Anne (Lawrence) Schmieg; grandchildren, Janeah Anderson, Ja’Khari Anderson, and Ja’Zear Overton; brothers, Gerald (Dotty), James (Keri), Jon (Deb), and Jay (Kelly) Longhenry; aunts, Naomi (Dave) Ernst, Vidella Parks, and Dorothy (Larry) Thompson; uncles, Danny (Sue) Ninneman, Roger (Nancy) Longhenry, and Wayne (Amy) Longhenry, and an extended family whom she treasured.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 14th, 2022, at Clarkfield Lutheran Church from 9-11 AM followed by the funeral service at 11 AM. Interment to follow in Yellow Bank Cemetery near Odessa, MN. 

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