JoAnne Marxen

JoAnne Marxen of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away surrounded by her loving family on July 16, 2024, at Essentia Health-Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes. She was 89 years old.

JoAnne was born on July 1, 1935, in Little Sauk, MN to Albin and Minda (Evenson) Nelson. They later moved to Nelson, MN where she attended school.

JoAnne married Lauren Marxen on August 16, 1952, in Alexandria, MN where they lived for 3 years before moving to Detroit Lakes in 1955. JoAnne worked in the kitchen at Rossman Elementary School for a couple of years before starting a daycare out of her home which she operated for many years. She also worked as a Para at Rossman Elementary for 2 years.

JoAnne served on the auxiliary at the VFW and volunteered at the American Legion in Detroit Lakes. She enjoyed bowling and was in a league for many years. She looked forward to summer every year so that she could plant as many flowers as possible. She loved to work in her vegetable garden and would grow cucumbers every year so she could make her famous pickles for her family because she knew how much they loved them. She also loved to make her homemade donuts, that would disappear as fast as she made them. JoAnne loved to go camping with her family and her favorite place to camp was anywhere in Montana. She also loved going on vacations with her family whenever she could. Later in life, she looked forward to playing cards with some of her friends every Saturday and Sunday.

JoAnne was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved her family and would do anything to help them. She loved to babysit her grandchildren and spend time with her family whenever she could. She really enjoyed the surprise 89th birthday party with her family on June 30th, 2024. She was a strong and independent woman with a funny sense of humor. She will be greatly missed.

JoAnne is survived by her 3 children, Greg (Glenice) Marxen of Detroit Lakes, Larry (Julie) Marxen of Fargo, ND and Cheryl (Richard) Grossman of Detroit Lakes. 7 grandchildren, Jennifer (Loren) French, Carlee (Martial) Diby, Cris (Wendy McPherson) Marxen, Nick Marxen, Michelle (Stefan) Bischof, Rich (Rachel LaForce) Grossman, Katelyn (Lucas Burnside) Grossman, 11 great-grandchildren and sister-in-law Alice Nelson.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lauren (1997), her parents Albin and Minda, her brother Roger Nelson, sisters Evangeline (Vange) Ekdahl and Eunice Leroy-Lesmeister, brothers-in-law John Ekdahl Jr. and Jim Elroy and infant brother Donald Nelson, brother-in-law Rudolph Flake, sister-in-law Verma Flake and niece Jeannie Flake

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 20, 2024. At Zion Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. A visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024, from 5-7 pm with a 6:30-prayer service at Zion Lutheran Church.

God gave us each an angel and her name is MOM!