Joanne Margaret Dobberstein

Joanne M. (Deal) Dobberstein, age 87, long time resident of Wheaton-Herman, Minnesota passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and family Friday, September 12, 2025 at the Sanford Wheaton Hospital in Wheaton, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Fr. John Paul Knopik Celebrant and Fr. Joe Vandeberg Concelebrant. Organist will be Cindy Sanasack with prelude music by Mary Roggenbuck. Special Music will be provided by Rick Fiedler and the Ave Maria Catholic Choir. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. 

Joanne Margaret Deal was born July 2, 1938 in Graceville, Minnesota to Albert and Florence (Marcus) Deal. Joanne was raised on a farm in the Wheaton-Herman area with mid-western values. She attended District 28 for grades 1-7 and Wheaton High School grades 8-12. She was a graduate of the WHS Class of 1956. She attended the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), where she then graduated with an Associate of Arts degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1960. While attending the UMN she was a member of the marching band where she played saxophone.

On April 24, 1958 she married Clyde Dobberstein. They had 5 children: Todd, Mark, Shawn, Blaine and Jonette. Joanne and Clyde lived in the Minneapolis area when they first married. In 1961 they returned to the Wheaton-Herman area where Clyde joined D&D Farms and Joanne began her teaching career at the Herman-Norcross School District. She taught second and third grade for thirty-six years.

After her retirement in 1997, Joanne enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed cooking, playing piano and organ, attending theater, concerts and musicals. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Wheaton Primetime Alumni Band.

Joanne was a life-long member of Ave Maria Catholic Church where she was baptized and confirmed. She was an organist and pianist at church for twenty-five years and sang in the choir.

Joanne was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Grateful for having shared in her life are her five children: Todd Dobberstein of Anoka, MN; Blaine Dobberstein of Herman, MN; Mark Dobberstein of Rogers, MN; Shawn (Darla) Dobberstein of Fargo, ND; and Jonette (Troy) Krauth of Elk River, MN; seven grandchildren: Megan (Adam) Dobberstein, Paige Dobberstein, Bailey Dobberstein, Kayla (Matt) Moore, Michael (Katy) Dobberstein, Jayde (Andy) Tyler and Jake Krauth; and five great-grandchildren: Hannah Moore, Hailee Moore, Mason Dobberstein, Wesley Dobberstein and Ford Dobberstein; two brothers: James (Pam) Deal of Anoka, MN; and John (Lois) Deal of Herman MN; as well as many friends, neighbors, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Joanne was preceded in death by her beloved husband Clyde Dobberstein; her parents Albert and Florence Deal; brother Jerome Deal; daughter-in-law Cheryl Dobberstein; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends.

Joanne was blessed with a long, full, happy, wholesome life. As a family she leaves major imprints on our hearts of love, kindness, generosity and culinary skills.

Blessed be the memory of Joanne Dobberstein.

Hers was, in the truest sense, a life well lived, and as she entered Paradise, Joanne most assuredly heard her Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of the Lord.”