JOAN MARIE CONNIFF

February 4, 1941 - December 8, 2018

Joan M. Conniff, 77, of Hokah, MN, died on December 8, 2018. Joan was born on February 4, 1941, in Rochester, MN, to Bruno and Ludwina Reining. After graduating from Lourdes HS, she received her BS in Nursing from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN. She married Duane Conniff of Hokah, MN, on August 3, 1963. Joan worked as a nurse through the first 12 years of their marriage. In 1975 she decided to focus her talents on farming with her husband as they raised their five children. Joan’s medical background, herdsmanship, and detailed recordkeeping were a strong complement to her husband’s farm knowledge and experience. Joan and Duane worked together to raise a successful dairy herd, which they sold in 2001 to semi-retire and focus on raising beef cattle and crops. She truly enjoyed working on the farm with her husband and children. She continued to appreciate farm life after Duane’s passing by taking long walks on the farm and observing the seasonal changes, crops, and cattle. Joan was always thinking of others, particularly what might help them or make them happy. She enjoyed offering sweet treats to those who came to visit or work on the farm. Her deep faith was a constant source of strength in difficult times and an inspiration for her children, grandchildren, and others. She is survived by five children: Ann (Jami) Menden, Rose (Louis) Nash, Mark (Shannon Lynch), Kevin (Amy Mike) and Alan (Kathy Kadlec). She has 11 grandchildren: Tim (Courtney Paaverud), Ryan, and Jessica Menden; Sarah and Bo Nash; Amber, Kaitlin, Tanner and Caleb Conniff; Jill and Eric Conniff; and one great-grandchild, Peter Menden. She is also survived by sisters Barb (David) Skalitzky and Rita (David) Bonds, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Duane, parents, brother Charles, and grandson John Henry Nash. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, December 14th, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, on Saturday, December 15 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, with visitation from 9:30-10:30 am before the service at the church. Father Gregory Havel will officiate and burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Hokah. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Peter’s are preferred.