JoAnne Shoemaker
A memorial service for JoAnne Shoemaker was held Friday, December 9, 2022 at Glende-Nilson Funeral Chapel in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
With Reverend Ned Erdman officiating.
JoAnne was born March 9, 1931 to Aubrey Glen and Ruby Elizabeth (Gunsolley) Milburn in Fort Scott, KS. She was Baptized at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Garland, KS, and married in the same church to Donald Dean Shoemaker on March 28, 1948, by Rev.
R.B. Shoemaker. They celebrated over 74 years of marriage.
JoAnne’s lifelong career goal was to be a teacher. She graduated with a BA and MS from Pittsburg State University, KS. She continued with Graduate work at Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, KS, the University of Nebraska, the University of North Dakota, and North Dakota State University.
Mrs. Shoemaker started her career life working for the family store. After graduation from high school, she assisted an insurance adjuster in Kansas City, MO, was secretary for a Wallace County, KS judge, and assistant to a chemistry professor at Pittsburg State Univeristy, KS.
After graduating from college, JoAnne taught in public school as a media specialist in Lamar, MO. The family moved to Fairbury, NE, where she taught 5th grade and went on to set up a mulit-media program within the school. She simultaneously taught classes at South East Community College. After moving to Bismarck, ND, she taught 5th grade in public schools and became Assistant Principal. She assisted her husband, Rev. Don Shoemaker, with serving in church ministry in many ways, including secretary, Sunday School teacher, co-writer of several books and more. In retirement, they traveled to over 13 countries and volunteered in missions.
Her multi-media skills were used in Johannesburg, South Africa; Bacone College in Muskogee, OK, Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, KS; and assisted with setting up a seminary library in Prague, Czech Republic.
JoAnne and Don made Fergus Falls their permanent home in 1994 and were members of Crossroads Church. JoAnne was also a member of NEA: North Dakota Retired Teacher Association.
She enjoyed sewing, decorative painting, crocheting, tatting, making greeting cards, reading, and playing games and puzzles in her spare time.
On Saturday, November 26, 2022, JoAnne passed away at Lake Region Hospital, Fergus Falls, MN, at the age of ninetyone years.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Teresa Shoemaker, grandson Bradley Schmidt, brothers Donald Milburn, Dale Milburn, Kenneth Milburn, and sister Lucille Arnold. JoAnne is survived by her spouse, Don Shoemaker: children Loraine (Daniel) Schmidt, Rapid City, SD; Gina (Bob) Slechta, Crestview, FL; Thane (Ruth) Shoemaker, Natchitoches, LA; John (Judith) Shoemaker, Bismarck, ND; Royce (Jennifer) Shoemaker, Fergus Falls, MN, 18 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads Church, 629 E Channing, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.
Condolences may be sent to Rev. Don Shoemaker, 2224 Ridgewood Dr., Fergus Falls, MN 56537.
