Joann Ostendorf

JoAnn Ostendorf, 78, of Two Harbors, died Saturday May 16, 2015 at the Barross Cottages in Two Harbors.

She was born October 10, 1936 to Carl and Alma (Simdorn) Peterson in Breckenridge, MN.  JoAnn grew up on a farm in the Red River Valley before moving to Mantador, ND where her parents operated the General Store.  At age 12, they moved to Swanville, MN where she later graduated from high school in 1954.

JoAnn worked as a bookkeeper for Land O’Lakes Creamery in Little Falls, MN for 3 years before marrying Ronald Ostendorf in 1957.  Together they moved to Two Harbors and had 5 children.  In addition to homemaking, JoAnn loved sewing, from the simplest mending to elaborate wedding gowns, gardening, and watching her grandchildren’s sporting events.

JoAnn drove a bus for the Knife River Day Activity Center for 3 years, a school bus for 30 years, and was employed by AEOA as the coordinator for Arrowhead Transportation in Cook, Lake, and Carlton counties for over 30 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Ted, Carl, and Larry Peterson.

JoAnn is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ron; son, Keith; daughters Kim Austen, Karen (Keith) Gray, Kathy (Steve) Plehal, and Kristi (Mike) Aho; 12 grandchildren, Heather, Kelly, Corey, Diana, Jonathan, Melissa, Jeffrey, Derek, Trevor, Shannah, Garrett, and Tanner; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Jacobs and Susan Hoffman; many nieces and nephews; and her bingo biddies.

Visitation will be from 10 AM until the 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, May 22, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Two Harbors.