Joan Irene (Lomheim) Abers

Joan Abers, took her last breath here on earth on Friday, November 10, 2023, early in the Morning at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria. Joan was 80 years old.

A memorial service in her honor will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Osakis Lutheran Church. Visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service.

Joan Irene Lomheim Abers was born in February 2nd , 1943 in Long Prairie Minnesota, one of two daughters of Julian and Lorraine (Thompson) Lomheim. She was raised and graduated from high school in Sauk Centre. It was while Joan was out with friends at the roller skating rink, that a young man by the name of James Abers introduced himself. He asked and she said yes to a date. Sixty-two years later, Jim is still glad he spent the money to go roller skating that night with his buddies. After high school, Joan attended cosmetology school and worked for a while as a hairdresser.  The two were united in marriage at Sauk Centre Lutheran Church on October 14, 1961.  The couple was blessed with three amazing and beautiful daughters, Tammy, Jackie and Gwinette. The couple raised their family in Osakis, where the girls could swim in the lake and attend a small school close to their cousins. When Joan was not busy attending to her family, she started what would be a lifetime of service in the food industry. She worked at a restaurant where Jimmy Jensen played then worked for many years at the Holiday Inn, Perkins and most recently Alexandria Schools. After Perkins, for a short time, she became an entrepreneur to her own catering business, Lake Country Catering.

Joan loved to go fishing with Jim and their family. She enjoyed traveling and never said no to attending a musical. Joan was a gorgeous soul inside and out, she was hardworking and enjoyed helping others. Joan could make any dull moment fun and always worked to incorporate it into any event, even work itself. Her generosity in sharing her love and compassion will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

On Friday, November 10, 2023, Joan passed away at 80, at Bethany at the Lake. She leaves behind her husband, James “Jim” Abers; daughters, Tammy (Paul) Reis, Gwinette Cowan; grandchildren, Wesley (Lindsay) Reis, Cole (Kyla) Reis, Alexia (Mike) Menth, Taylor Amundson, Grant Cowan, Taya Cowan; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Caleb, Ryder and Violet; sister, Carol Jaros; Sister-in-law, Tonoa (Robert) Herrebrugh-Abers; brothers-in-law, Calvin (Joyce) Abers Jr., Charles “Chuck” (Janie) Abers; many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jackie Amundson; granddaughter, Cagney Reve` Reis; parents, Julian and Lorraine Lomheim; mother and father-in-law, Calvin and Marguerite Abers Sr.; and Brother-in-law, Artie Jaros. 

A memorial service in her honor will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Osakis Lutheran Church in Osakis at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. At a later date she will be buried at the Long Bridge Cemetery in Rural Long Bridge Minnesota. Arrangements for Joan are with the Iten Funeral Home of Browerville, MN. www.itenfuneralhome.com

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