Mass of Christian Burial for Joan Helen Grad age 72 of Andover, MN will be 10:30 AM Saturday, June 18, 2016 at St. Michael's Catholic Church (206 2nd St. Herreid, SD) Visitation will 6:30 PM with a Wake service at 7:30 PM at the church. Interment will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Joan passed away Monday, June 13, 2016 at her home in Andover, MN.

Joan Helen (Weinzirl) Grad was born March 3, 1944 in a sod home on the west edge of Herreid South Dakota to parents Joe and Ella Weinzirl. "Joanie" attended grade school and High School in Herreid, where she played in the band and was a cheerleader.

After graduating high school in the spring of 1962 she married John Lloyd Grad June 7, 1962 in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Herreid, SD. They made their first home on a farm about 9 miles east of Herreid, SD and together they had 4 children; Bonita (died in infancy), Tom, Frankie Jo and Janet. Joanie worked in the Treasurer's office of the Campbell County Courthouse.

In 1969 they moved to Blaine, MN after Lloyd took a job with the Army Ammunition Plant (Arsenal) in New Brighton, MN. They resided in Blaine until 1972, when they moved to Mound City, SD when Lloyd took over management of his brother Ray's bar, the Friendly Tavern. A little less than a year later they moved back to Blaine, MN and resided there for 27 years. Joanie held various positions of employment with the Spring Lake Park Bank, American Family Insurance, Ball Brothers Engineering, and Blaine Senior High, where she was a cook for 8 years.

In 1996 Lloyd and Joanie retired and moved to Ortonville, MN to be closer to daughter, Janet and her family, and their siblings back in the Dakotas. They were residents of Ortonville, MN until May 2016 when, with Joanie in poor health, they moved to Andover MN to be closer to Tom and Fran and their families.

Joanie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was an excellent cook and never came for a visit without bringing a homemade goodie to share. She was genuinely concerned about everyone and enriched every life she touched.

She was a strong and faithful woman who lived out her faith daily. She prayed more often than anyone most of us know. She loved holidays because it brought her family together. She always made her time special with her family and friends. Joanie especially enjoyed taking time with each grandchild to spoil them during birthdays or to hear about their latest activities or hobbies. She worked diligently, with advanced health issues, to make sure she completed a very detailed photo album for her grandchildren.

Whenever Joanie made a new friend, she knew she had a friend for life. She was compassionate, kind, devoted, respectful and protective of her family and friends. She was a peacemaker. She did not like feuding or hard feelings and made sure her family and friends knew it throughout the years. She loved hummingbirds, a good recipe, whistling, chocolate and a good laugh. More than anything, she loved her family.

Joanie is survived by her husband; Lloyd Grad of Andover, MN; 3 children; Tom (Julie) Grad, Deephaven, MN, Frankie Jo (Kevin) McNallan, Andover, MN and Janet (Chet) Messmer, Mesa, AZ, 9 grandchildren; Kristy (Jeff) Wessel, Laurie Grad (Pat Kincade), Ciara Grad, Jenna McNallan, Danielle McNallan (Andy Peden), Marissa McNallan, Jake McNallan, Tate Messmer, and Morgan Messmer. Her siblings; Bernadette (Alvin) Fjeldheim, Beatrice (Jerry) Goetz and Joey (Wendy) Weinzirl. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Arlouine Grad, Gwen Grad, Virlene (James) Kiefer, Cecilia Rueb, Fran (Harry) Serr, Linda (Jim) Masterson, Bob (Teresa) Grad and Joe (Sharon) Grad. Many nieces and nephews.

She was preceeded in death by her parents; Joe and Ella Weinzirl, brother, Stanley Weinzirl, nephew, Dwight Weinzirl and infant daughter, Bonita Jane Grad, two infant brothers, Gerald and Sylvester Weinzirl. Parents-in-law, Frank and Cecelia Grad, Brothers-in-law, Don Grad, Ray Grad and Leo Grad, and niece Renee Lundberg.