Joan "Joanie" Beilke

Joan I. “Joanie” Beilke, age 65 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at her home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Marty Porter officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Joan Irene Boecker was born December 16, 1957 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Lawrence and Valeria (Pohlmann) Boecker. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1976. She was united in marriage to Ronald “Ron” Beilke on May 7, 1977 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Joanie worked at Stearns Manufacturing in Grey Eagle and at Pride of Mainstreet Dairy in Sauk Centre where she was the office manager and bookkeeper. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Joanie enjoyed gardening, doing word search, and the Sudoku puzzle. She was an excellent cook and baker and loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her sisters.

Survivors include her husband, Ron Beilke of Sauk Centre; children, Darren Beilke of Sauk Centre and Celeste Beilke of Sauk Centre; brothers and sisters, Caroline Erickson of Grey Eagle, David (Ellie) Boecker of St. Rosa, Rosie (Dave) Ehlert of Freeport, Gerald (Verena “Tweetie”) Boecker of Melrose, Marilyn (Charles) Berger of Albany, Kenneth Boecker of St. Rosa, and Steven (Geri) Boecker of Melrose; mother-in-law, Lorraine Beilke of Sauk Centre; sister-in-law, Carol Boecker of Delano; and brothers-in-law, Randy Beilke of Sauk Centre and Russell (Vicki) Beilke of Sauk Centre.

Joanie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Joseph, Virgil, Alvin, and Jerome Boecker; father-in-law, Arthur Beilke; and sister-in-law, Bernie Boecker.