Joan Gerads

Joan M. Gerads, age 64 of St. Francis, passed away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, August 8 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis with Rev. Jimmy Joseph officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis.

Joan Marie Renneker was born January 26, 1961 in Melrose, Minnesota to Alcuin and Loretta (Dullinger) Renneker. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1980. She was united in marriage to Michael “Mike” Gerads on August 22, 1981 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Joan enjoyed working with the elderly as a care giver at area nursing homes including Albany, Upsala, St. Cloud, and most recently in Little Falls.

She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis. Joan enjoyed birdwatching, flower gardening, bowling, and was obsessed with Christmas. The Christmas tree is up and lit year-round and the Christmas music never stops at Joan’s house!

Survivors include her husband, Mike Gerads of St. Francis; children, Denise Gerads (Brian Abraham) of Upsala, Diane Gerads of Upsala, Deanna Gerads of Aliceville, Alabama, Frank (Alley) Gerads of St. Francis, Michael, Jr. (Harley) Gerads of St. Francis, Alison (Andrew) Kulla of Bowlus, and William Gerads of Grey Eagle; 11 grandchildren; and sisters, Julie (Jerry) Gerads of Melrose, Jean Kidrowski of Willmar, Jeanette (Tom) Gerads of Freeport, Jill (Ray) Kurowski of Long Prairie, Janice (Dave) Guse of Holdingford, and Jodi Johnson of Long Prairie.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Alcuin Renneker on April 9, 2018 and Loretta Renneker on February 15, 2022; brother, Jim Renneker on May 1, 2018; infant sons, Clemens, Mark, and Matthew; and an infant sister, Mary Renneker.