JoAnn Meyer

JoAnn Sylvia (Herrick) Meyer, 91, of Sauk Centre, MN, passed away on March 5, 2026, surrounded by her family.

********** Please note the date of the service below *************

A celebration of life will be held at 11 am on Saturday, July 18, 2026 with visitation from 10-11 am at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home, 620 Beltline Road, Sauk Centre, MN 56378. Luncheon to follow at the Lynx Golf Course, 40204 Primrose Lane, Sauk Centre, MN 56378. We invite all who attend to wear brighter colors in honor of her love of flowers and nature.

JoAnn was born on August 31, 1934, daughter of Cyril and Dora Schultz Herrick in Montevideo, MN, the third of six children. She graduated from New Ulm High school in 1952 and was active in speech, debate, drama, yearbook, school newspaper, and even won an award for best posture. She was a proud graduate of St. Olaf University, graduating in 1956 with a degree in speech. To pay for college she spent her summers working on the luxury cruise ship S.S. North American on the Great Lakes working as a housekeeper, waitress, and variety show performer. She taught high school English in Aitkin, Long Prairie and Sauk Centre, MN. After meeting John “Jack” Meyer on a blind date, they married in 1960 and welcomed three children, John (SCHS ‘79), Ann (SCHS ‘83) and David (SCHS ‘86), establishing their life in Sauk Centre.

JoAnn was a strong supporter of Sauk Centre and an active member of many committees. She and her close friend, Mary Kay Mayer, founded an Art and Craft Fair to raise funds for Holy Family School. When the late afternoon school activity bus was canceled due to budget cuts, she was instrumental in creating a booster club to raise funds to continue the bus route so that transportation would not be a barrier to participation. She was a dedicated fan to her kids' many sporting and music events and was also a strong supporter of Sauk Centre athletics, especially to advocate for girls’ sports in the 1980s.

JoAnn was an avid gardener and artist with nature as a focus of her work. She designed her many gardens masterfully so that there were always flowers blooming throughout the growing season. When others stopped to ask about her garden, she would often offer to dig up the plant, divide it and give them a plant for their garden. She arranged flowers for weddings and events and sold her artwork at local stores.

Family was a priority for JoAnn. Starting in 1961, she hosted her siblings and their entire families for Thanksgiving. Even as families grew in number, the tradition continued in Sauk Centre for close to fifty years and still remains a beloved tradition for the Herricks. Additionally, she hosted many Meyer family gatherings, helped record family genealogy, and designed and printed a family cookbook.

JoAnn was a life-long learner who had a deep appreciation for the cycles of nature, noting the timing of bird migration, ice in and ice out dates, and the changing position of the sun at sunset and sunrise. She avidly followed local, state, national, and world news and enjoyed talking about the issues of the day. She loved cooking, and when Jack’s kidneys began to fail, she diligently researched and developed new recipes to fit his dietary requirements. She was still trying new recipes and cooking for herself every day up to her illness.

JoAnn is survived by her children John (Michele) of Surprise, AZ; Ann Feitl (Dave) of Mendota Heights, MN; David (Susie) of Alexandria, VA/Belfast, Northern Ireland; her grandchildren John “Jack” Meyer (Mirella), Leah Feitl (Lemuel), Jocy Meyer (Calum), and Sam Feitl. JoAnn is survived by her siblings Sid (Nyla), Kathy, sister-in-law Judy and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-five years Jack, parents Cyril and Dora; siblings Virgil (Shirley), Loretta Schroeder (Gordon), Dallas, and brothers-in-law Wenzel Wiesner and Leo Grebner.

The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and to her caregivers at the Sauk Centre and St. Cloud Hospitals for their compassionate and attentive care.