S. JoAnn Jagt

S. JoAnn Jagt, 85, of Willmar, died Sunday, August 11th at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar. Her funeral service will be 11:00 am, Friday, August 16th at Refuge Church in Willmar. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm, Thursday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to her service at the church. Private family burial will be held before the Friday memorial service in Clover Leaf Cemetery in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Shirley JoAnn Jagt was born on January 11, 1934, to Sigfred and Arylene (Gabrielson) Alinder in Kandiyohi Township. She grew up on the family farm near Willmar where she attended Country School 70 before she and her family moved to rural New London. JoAnn continued her schooling at Country School 9 before graduating as the Valedictorian of New London High School Class of 1952. On October 22, 1954, JoAnn was united in marriage to Arend Jagt in New London. To this union four children were born: Robin, Kathy, Judy and David. Before they got married JoAnn and Arend enjoyed going on dates at the church. JoAnn and her family made their home in Willmar where she started working at the West-Central Tribune, Willmar Public Schools and eventually working at Rice Memorial Hospital as an Insurance Clerk. She continued to work there for 32 years! JoAnn and Arend were active at Refuge Church where JoAnn was involved with teaching Sunday school, woman’s deaconess, youth sponsor, and church clerk. JoAnn enjoyed gardening flowers, canning peaches, camping, snowmobiling, going to Como Zoo Conservatory and spending as much time as she could with her family. JoAnn enjoyed celebrating her children and grandchildren’s birthdays, where she would make each one special and she never missed a birthday party. She celebrated life. She also loved holidays, especially Christmas. She was a loving wife, mom, and grandma.

JoAnn is survived by her loving husband, Arend; children: Robin (Larry) Spencer of Willmar, Kathy (Virgil) Damhof of Willmar, Judy (Mark) LaFollette of Cannon Falls, and David (Stacey) Jagt of Lakeville; 13 grandchildren, and over 21 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters: Sharon Caskey of Burnsville, Jean Kemp of Burnsville, and Beverly Alinder of Beeville, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law: Walter Caskey and Frank Kemp.       

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