Joan (Winberg) Warnecke

Joan Warnecke, 81, Harwood, ND passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 at her home under the care of Sanford Hospice and her husband at her side.

Joan Lillian Winberg was born on Nov. 2, 1942 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to George and Peggy Winberg. She was raised in the Weston district of Winnipeg and attended the Anglican Church of Canada. Joan was baptized on March 20, 1977. She attended Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute commerical course graduating in 1959. She accepted employment with the Winnipeg School District in the office. A few years later she was employed by Manufacturers Life Ins. Co of Canada.

In 1964, she traveled to Fargo-Moorhead area with her cousin June. June was from Van Nuys, CA and was a California acquaintance of Doug Warnecke. Over the weekend Doug drove them to Itaska State Park. It wasn’t long before Doug journeyed to Winnipeg to visit Joan. After numerous car, bus and plane trips – Joan suggested they needed to end all the travel time, so one Sunday evening in January parked outside the Greyhound bus station in Fargo, the date was set and on Aug. 6, 1966 they were married in the Anglican Church in Winnipeg. Doug flew them to Phoenix for a honeymoon trip returning to an apartment on 9th St. N in Fargo. On Aug. 16, 1967 they were blessed with a daughter Michelle Joan and on Dec. 16, 1968 with a son Scott Douglas. In 1969 they bought a lot and Doug began building their new home in Brooktree Park near Harwood. They moved in on Jan. 1, 1970 with no interior doors yet hung!

They joined Zion Lutheran Church in Harwood where Joan taught Sunday school for a few years. Joan was active in the little league baseball games and in the Brooktree Ladies Birthday club. She enjoyed many days at the pool and for 10 years taking care of the neighbor’s little girl Stacy. Joan was family oriented to a fault – like a mother bear! She loved all her family and was very protective of her great grandkids.

Joan was a proud Canadian however she pledged her allegiance to the United States on Oct. 18, 1996 taking the oath as administered by Federal Judge Rodney Webb. While this was a celebratory day for new citizens, she admonished Doug to be quiet and reserved when her name was called! Joan was primarily motivated to gain US citizenship so she could vote and she never missed an opportunity to vote in any election.

Following their marriage, Joan worked at Prudential Insurance Co until Michelle was about 9 months old. She was a stay-at-home mom until the kids were out of school. Many years later she worked briefly at Agway in Grandin, ND and at Century 21 Dakota Realty for 4 years accepting employment with Anda Construction in Fargo as an in-office property manager-coordinator. She enjoyed her years with Anda until retiring. She joined the Harwood American Legion Auxiliary in 1989 where she served several years as secretary.

For many years, her hobbies were tending to her 50’x225’ garden, making zucchini relish and growing earlier and bigger vegetables than their neighbor! Joan was also an avid reader in her quiet times and she loved traveling in their motorhomes and the camping experiences including trips to Alaska and Vancouver in 2016.  Joan became a grandma and later a great grandma “Granny” on Christmas Day 2012 when Carson was born the first of four great grandkids!

Suffering for many years with COPD and Emphysema the difficulties of beathing ended her enjoyment of her Canadian relative visits, going to Canada, out to dinner or even for a walk in the yard. She could no longer navigate the stairs in their home or attend doctor appointments as it was also too difficult to get in and out of the car. Her advice is “…if you smoke (vape) – QUIT!”

Joan is survived by her husband Doug of 58 years; her sister Peggy of Vancouver, BC, Canada; her granddaughter, Amanda (Greg) Malikowski; great grandkids, Carson, Bentley, Gracelynn and Hadleigh and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Michelle, son Scott, her Granny, parents, sister Nancy, brother Gerald and Aunty Joyce.

Funeral: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 at 1 PM at Zion Lutheran Church, Harwood, ND with visitation one hour prior.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, rural Harwood.

Special thanks to Sanford Hospice for their excellent care and granddaughter Amanda for her extra care.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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