1944
JoAnne
2012
JoAnne Foley
November 14, 1944 — February 21, 2012
JoAnne Foley passed away on February 21, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. in her home after losing her battle with cancer.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
JoAnne was born on Tuesday, November 14, 1944, in Duluth, MN to Jesse and Carol (Fagerlie) Flury. When the war was over, her family moved to Moorhead, MN. Five years later, they moved to Detroit Lakes, where she attended all of her school years, graduating in 1962.
Coming from a musical family, she was self-taught in piano during school. After graduating, she took a piano course from a music teacher in Detroit Lakes through the Sherwood Music School in Chicago, IL. During this time, she began her piano teaching career with 60 students. She retired from piano teaching several times over the years, with her last three students finishing with their final recital on November 20, 2011.
She was married to Richard (Dick) Foley on March 6, 1965, at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. She was raised Lutheran and after marrying Dick, she spent the next 35 years as a "Luthlic Catheran", being the dedicated organist and choir director for 35 years at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, and as a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio, MN. She also spent many years teaching music to the Sunday school students at St. Mary's.
On October 23, 1986, JoAnne completed a correspondence course through the American School of Piano Tuning. She tuned hundreds of pianos in the area and traveled as far as Virginia Beach, VA, to tune a piano. JoAnne enjoyed wood-working with her scroll saw, trivia, and research and history. She compiled a book on the history of Alberta, MN, and also volunteered at the Stevens County Historical Society doing research and other projects.
JoAnne was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick), in 2002, and sister, Lillian Dewane. She is survived by her four children; Patricia (husband, Scott Roby) Foley of Duluth, MN, Richard (wife, Shawna Gugel) Foley of Virginia Beach, VA, Karin (Douglas) Jahnke of Johnson, MN, and Jill (Steven) Weber of Sauk Rapids, MN, grandchildren; Lauren and Kayla Foley, Brenda, Ashlie and Nicholas Jahnke, and Hannah, Jacob and Jack Weber, sisters; Jeanette (Ken) Ziegler of Mankato, MN, and Marilyn Collins of Broken Arrow, OK, brothers-in-law; Joe Dewane of Aurora, IL, Deane Osterman of Spokane, WA, and Don Stroman of Morris, MN, and sister-in-law; Donna (Russell) Larson of Chokio, MN. Other survivors include some of the most loving and caring friends a person could have.
Officiating at the funeral service will be Father Joe Vandeberg, Father Jerry Nordick, and Pastor Gloria Anderson. Music will be provided by St. Mary's Choir, Amy Blackwelder, Becky Draper, and Tom and Pearl Horning.
Pedersen Funeral Home is assisting with the Memorial Service arrangements.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service.
JoAnne was born on Tuesday, November 14, 1944, in Duluth, MN to Jesse and Carol (Fagerlie) Flury. When the war was over, her family moved to Moorhead, MN. Five years later, they moved to Detroit Lakes, where she attended all of her school years, graduating in 1962.
Coming from a musical family, she was self-taught in piano during school. After graduating, she took a piano course from a music teacher in Detroit Lakes through the Sherwood Music School in Chicago, IL. During this time, she began her piano teaching career with 60 students. She retired from piano teaching several times over the years, with her last three students finishing with their final recital on November 20, 2011.
She was married to Richard (Dick) Foley on March 6, 1965, at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. She was raised Lutheran and after marrying Dick, she spent the next 35 years as a "Luthlic Catheran", being the dedicated organist and choir director for 35 years at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chokio, MN, and as a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio, MN. She also spent many years teaching music to the Sunday school students at St. Mary's.
On October 23, 1986, JoAnne completed a correspondence course through the American School of Piano Tuning. She tuned hundreds of pianos in the area and traveled as far as Virginia Beach, VA, to tune a piano. JoAnne enjoyed wood-working with her scroll saw, trivia, and research and history. She compiled a book on the history of Alberta, MN, and also volunteered at the Stevens County Historical Society doing research and other projects.
JoAnne was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick), in 2002, and sister, Lillian Dewane. She is survived by her four children; Patricia (husband, Scott Roby) Foley of Duluth, MN, Richard (wife, Shawna Gugel) Foley of Virginia Beach, VA, Karin (Douglas) Jahnke of Johnson, MN, and Jill (Steven) Weber of Sauk Rapids, MN, grandchildren; Lauren and Kayla Foley, Brenda, Ashlie and Nicholas Jahnke, and Hannah, Jacob and Jack Weber, sisters; Jeanette (Ken) Ziegler of Mankato, MN, and Marilyn Collins of Broken Arrow, OK, brothers-in-law; Joe Dewane of Aurora, IL, Deane Osterman of Spokane, WA, and Don Stroman of Morris, MN, and sister-in-law; Donna (Russell) Larson of Chokio, MN. Other survivors include some of the most loving and caring friends a person could have.
Officiating at the funeral service will be Father Joe Vandeberg, Father Jerry Nordick, and Pastor Gloria Anderson. Music will be provided by St. Mary's Choir, Amy Blackwelder, Becky Draper, and Tom and Pearl Horning.
Pedersen Funeral Home is assisting with the Memorial Service arrangements.
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