Joanne Witmer Von Blon

Joanne Witmer Von Blon, age 100, died peacefully at home on May 9, 2024.

Joanne, who, in typical fashion, drafted her own obituary, would like it to be known that she

was State Fair equestrian champion in her teens, climbed the Grand Teton at 40, had a second

degree black belt in karate and studied Tai Chi for over thirty years. She loved birding,

mushrooming and knew the wildflowers. Her favorite volunteer job was caring for the animals in the Tucson Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Center during the winters she and her husband Phil spent in Arizona.

A graduate of Northrop Collegiate School and Smith College, Joanne served as Chair of Minneapolis Mayor Naftalin's Joint Committee for Equal Opportunity and was a life member of the NAACP. She was a trustee of Minnesota Public Radio. An avid reader, she reviewed books for the StarTribune and served on the boards of the Loft Literary Center, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and Graywolf Press.

Preceded in death by her husband Philip and her first grandchild Philip Otis, she is survived by her daughters Margaret Wurtele (Angus, dec.) and Martha Meyer-Von Blon (Tom Meyer), grandsons Andrew Meyer (Susan Roth), Martin Meyer (Elise Maxwell) and Henry Meyer (partner Colleen Powers), and four great grandchildren.

The family acknowledges with deep appreciation Theresa Johnson, Rachael Drew,

Becky Frederick and her amazing team of nurses.