Joan Ziemann

Lakeville - Joan Ziemann, age 78 of Lakeville, formerly of Northfield and Owatonna, passed away with her family by her side on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.Joan Ruth (Eppen) Ziemann was born February 25, 1948, in Red Wing, Minnesota, to Naberdt F. and Ruth J. (Miller) Eppen. She was baptized on March 10, 1948. She was raised on the family farm in rural Goodhue and attended St Peter's Lutheran School in Belvidere Township. In 1966, she graduated from Goodhue High School and went on to receive her LPN degree from Red Wing School of Practical Nursing in Red Wing, MN. Following her education she worked at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.In 1968, through mutual friends, Joan met her future husband, a school teacher named Neal Leslie Ziemann. They married on June 6, 1970, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. After marriage they made their home in Blooming Prairie and Joan worked as a nurse in Austin. In 1973, they moved to Owatonna. While living in Owatonna, Joan began working for Wenger Manufacturing and operated her own home day care. In 1991, Joan established Unique Designs, an embroidery business which she later sold in 2002, Joan and Neal semi retired and moved to Northfield to help care for her parents. They moved to Lakeville in 2021.Joan was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and a former member of St John's Lutheran Church in Rosemount, Trinity Lutheran Church in Northfield and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Owatonna. Over the years she was always active in her churches as organist, children's music director and serving on various boards and committees. Joan was a talented musician crafter and seamstress, and also a member of the Music Boosters of Owatonna. She was determined, tenacious, caring, loving, selfless and had a wonderful way with children. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.Survivors include her husband of 55 years Neal; her daughters Sonja Ziemann and Amanda (Denny) Skou, three grandchildren Joseph, Benjamin and Jemma Skou all of Lakeville; her brother Ralph (Sue) of South St. Paul; her nephews and niece Joshua (Jenna), Jessica (Nathan), Jacob (Samantha); and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.Funeral services will be at 11:00AM, Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:00AM and a reception will follow the service. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield. Pallbearers will be: Joshua Eppen, Jacob Eppen, Denny Skou, Matt Eppen, Dale Kohrs, Bill Betcher, and Dave Skou. Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Memorials are preferred to Messiah Lutheran Church https://messiahonline.org/give/ or the National Lymphedema Network https://lymphnet.org/donations/www.northfieldfuneral.com