Joan BRAINARD

Age 98 of North Oaks Peacefully passed October 12, 2023 Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota to Wright and Ruth Cockroft. She grew up in St. Paul and graduated from Central High School. Her college years were spent at Carleton College and the University of Minnesota where she graduated in 1947 with a BA in Design and a BS in Art Education. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Married Benson Carlton Brainard on April 17, 1948. She served on the Board of Directors for the St. Paul Gallery and School of Art. Joan and Ben moved to the home she designed in North Oaks in 1957. She and Ben enjoyed summers at their cottage on Madeline Island, playing tennis, boating and what she called "porch sitting." She loved fresh Lake Superior fish and said no one prepared it better than her son-in-law Bob. Joan loved traveling and she and Ben had many wonderful trips over the years, Danube River cruises, Baltic Sea, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Elder Hostel adventures and houseboating in Voyageurs National Park and on Lake of the Woods with the entire family. Her last big trip was with Susan and Nancy to Maui for her 90th. Joan had many interests and approached them all with fierce dedication. She was active for many years in Camp Fire Girls as a leader, camp committee member and district committee member. She maintained a keen interest in her daughter's careers and often said Susan had "her dream job." It's unclear how she would have squeezed that in. Joan's true passion was North Oaks, she wanted nothing but the best for the city and the preservation of the James J. Hill Farm. She served on the North Oaks City Council from 1967-1973, North Oaks planning Commission, Board of Directors of North Oaks Homeowners Association from 1978-1980 and 2008-2010. She was a driving force in initiating the recycling program in North Oaks. She was known as the "Buckthorn Buster" for her efforts to remove this invasive shrub. She was the owner and publisher of North Oaks News from 1981 until its purchase by Press Publications. Joan co-authored with Dick Leonard the book Three Bold Ventures the History of North Oaks. Joan was a founding Board Member of the Hill Farm Historical Society and served on the board until her passing. She was instrumental in the James J. Hill North Oaks Farm receiving its place on the National Register of Historic Places. She was tireless in her efforts to research and restore Hill Farm's remaining buildings and tell the story of the role North Oaks Farm played in history. She was truly a force! Joan was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Ben. Joan is survived by her daughters, Susan Brainard Nelson (Bob), Nancy Brainard (Jeff Monzel), dear friend Carol Bergeson, nieces, and nephews. Memorials may be directed to: Health Partners Hospice, Presbyterian Homes of North Oaks, or Hill Farm Historical Society. A gathering in remembrance of Joan will be held at a future date.