Joanne L. Ogren

Joanne Louise Ogren, 76, of Barnesville, MN, passed away peacefully at home Friday, November 18, 2011. She was born to the late Clarence and Josephine (Kelting) Altenbernd July 18, 1935 in Sabin, MN. Joanne attended grades one through eight in Sabin and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1953. She attended and graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College in 1956 and in the same year married the late George Lynn Curtis. After a short time in Grand Forks, ND, they made their home in Barnesville. Joanne received a B.S. degree in Education in 1969 from Moorhead State College (MSUM) and taught 32 years before retiring in 1996. She taught one year in Grand Forks and two years in Pelican Rapids, MN, and for the remaining 29 years of her career in Barnesville at Florence Atkinson Elementary School. In 1989 she married Byron C. Ogren of Moorhead, MN and they continued to make Barnesville their home. Joanne loved sewing and was an award winning quilter and seamstress. Joanne enjoyed gardening especially growing flowers. She was an active member of St. Johns Lutheran Church. She was an avid reader and an member of the Barnesville Literary League. Joanne was a devoted and loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren. Joanne is survived by her husband of 22 years, four children: Scott Curtis (Lu) and children Eric, Hannah, and Jack of Forest Lake, MN; Dean Curtis (Cindy) and children Andrew and William of Springfield, MO; David Curtis (Clara) and children Ellen Anne and Emma of Clyde, NC; Kathy Curtis Waddell (Tom) of Mt. Horeb, WI. She is also survived by a sister, Linda Tiffany of Show Lo, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband and step mother Henrietta Sis (Nielsen) Altenbernd of Sabin. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley and St. Johns Ladies Aid, St. Johns Lutheran Church, Barnesville Memorial Service: 11:00 am, Friday, November 25, 2011 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Barnesville. Visitation: will be 9:30 to 11:00 am on Friday at the Church. Interment: Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead, Minnesota Clergy: Rev. Thomas Eaves Organist: Jessica Dobmeier Soloists: Andy Curtis, Emma Curtis and Duane Rossett Honorary Pallbearers: Everyone in Attendance. The Dobmeier Funeral Home of Barnesville is assisting the family with arrangements.