Joan Sechser

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Joan Sechser passed away peacefully on April 12th at the age of 83. A joint memorial mass will be held for Norman and Joan on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Humboldt beginning at 10:30 am. Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Joan attended Augustana University before dedicating her life to what mattered most to her: family, faith, and community. She married the love of her life, Norman Sechser, and together they built a beautiful life centered on deep devotion, enduring friendship, and unwavering faith. Their marriage of 62 years was a shining example of love and partnership. Joan now rejoins Norman in heaven, together again in eternal peace. Joan was the heart of her family, the steady nurturing presence who held everything together. While working at a local hospital, she somehow managed to raise five children with incredible strength, warmth, and unshakable love. She ran a tight ship, yes, but her home was always full of guidance, laughter, and support. She was the first to rise and the last to rest, making sure everyone else was taken care of before herself. She remembered everything, handled it all, and showed up for everyone, no matter what. To her grandchildren, she was simply Grandma, always ready with a warm hug, a kind word, and something delicious from the kitchen. Her homemade cookies, famous goulash, egg salad sandwiches, and trademark "nuts and bolts" will live on in family lore, always remembered with love and full stomachs. Even across miles and generations, Joan was the glue that kept the family connected. She called, emailed, and wrote faithfully, anchoring everyone in the roots of their lineage. Her devotion to family extended beyond her own household. She kept the spirit of togetherness alive, always. A devout Catholic, Joan's faith was the quiet strength behind everything she did. Her rosary never gathered dust, and her spiritual grounding carried her and her family through life's highs and lows. In her quiet moments, Joan loved word searches, logic puzzles, card games, and curling up with a good mystery novel after everyone else had gone to sleep. She found joy in old movies, especially westerns, admiring their grit, values, and loyalty. But her favorite film was The Sound of Music, a tradition she upheld every Christmas and many times in between. Joan was a tough cookie with a sharp wit, a brilliant mind, and a heart that loved deeply. She faced life's challenges with grace and grit, and she leaves behind a legacy of resilience, love, and unwavering faith. She is survived by her five children: Mike (Demara) Sechser, Mark (Gina) Sechser, Todd (Tamara) Sechser, Jolene (Jeff) Robinson, and Janel (Julie) Sechser, as well as eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two loving sisters, June Ginnings and Joyce (Bob) Heidemann. Joan's presence will be deeply missed, but her spirit lives on in the lives she touched, the love she gave, and the family she built.