Joan Mary Blaschko

Joan Mary Blaschko, age 87, of St. Peter, died Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at River’s Edge Hospital.

A prayer service will begin at 1pm, Sunday, June 23, 2024 at the Catholic Church of St. Peter with a time of sharing to follow. Visitation will continue until 4pm at church. Please join the family at Blaschko’s Embassy Bar to continue celebrating Joan’s life. A private family graveside service will take place at Calvary Cemetery. Please share a memory of Joan with her family and view her video tribute online at www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com

Joan was born December 5, 1936 in St. Peter to Vernon and Ceil (Simonette) Peterson. She graduated from St. Peter High School in 1955. At age 21, Joan was united in marriage to LeRoy Blaschko at St. Mary’s Church in St. Peter on February 15, 1958 in a blizzard. She and LeRoy were blessed with twelve children. Joan and LeRoy owned and operated Peterson’s Recreation in St. Peter, a business that was within the family from 1909 until the tornado in 1998.

After LeRoy passed in 1990, Joan had various jobs, including Ginny May’s Donuts and Dunkin’ Donuts. She also served school lunches at South and North Elementary Schools for many years until retirement, known as the Lunch Lady and Grandma B!

Joan was the queen of garage sales and loved attending meat raffles and playing Bingo up to five times a week with her friends and family. She enjoyed playing scratch offs and lottery tickets; betting on football and various sports; and collecting M&M, Snow White, and owl figurines. When her grandchildren were younger, Grandma Joan taught them how to play poker while she watched them over the summer. She will be forever missed.

Joan is survived by her son, Rick Blaschko; daughter, Connie (Steve) Hanek and their children, Kelly (Courtney) Reed, Alli (Cole) Sinnamon, and John Hanek; daughter, Denise (Dave Iveland) Blaschko and their children, Jesse (Marcy) Blaschko and Jacob (Caitlin Hess) Iveland; daughter-in-law, Cris Blaschko and her son, Erik Blaschko; son, Andy (Denise) Blaschko and their children, Mitch Blaschko, Megan (Justin Ripplinger) Blaschko, and Maccoy Blaschko; son, Denny (Audra) Blaschko and their children, Denny (Jillian) Blaschko II, LeRoy Blaschko, and James Blaschko; son, David (Cindy) Blaschko and their children, Michelle (Dustin) Sargent and Cody (Larissa Carl) Blaschko; son, Chris (Jo) Blaschko and their children, Bryce Blaschko, Kendra (Ben Dresow) Blaschko; daughter, Jackie Blaschko and her children, Bryanna (Tim Venaro) Blaschko and Derek (Amber) Connolly, Brady (Brandi) Connolly, and Ryan (Adie) Connolly; son, Ron (Kristi) Blaschko and their children, Kassie (Loren Dimmel) Blaschko, Brittany (Jordan Rosacker) Blaschko, and Alex (Brittanie) Blaschko; son, Terry (Amy) Blaschko and their children, Tyler (Stephanie) Blaschko, Taylor (Holly) Blaschko, and Bailey (Lucas) Witzany; son, Jimmy (LaDawn Mell) Blaschko and their children, Amanda (Jared) Anderberg, Josh (Erica) Ristau, and Haley (Joshua Hegna) Blaschko; 45+ great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, and brother, Joe (Sherri) Peterson.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; husband, LeRoy; sisters, Katie Peterson and Lois Stueven; son, Randy Blaschko; granddaughter, Gina Gehrke; and great-grandson, Landen Blaschko.