Joanne M Blakeslee

Joanne M. (Juenemann) Blakeslee, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, age 85, of Duluth, passed away on Sunday, March 8th 2026 at St. Luke’s Hospice in Duluth. She was born on April 4, 1940, in St. Paul to Wilfred and Helen Juenemann. She began training for her lifelong career in nursing at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and earned her LPN degree from the Cook County (Illinois) School of Nursing in 1959. She worked in several fields of nursing, including as a nurse anesthetist and later in the insurance industry as a medical claims specialist.

Prior to moving to Duluth in 2007, Joanne was an active member of the Church of St. Matthew in St. Paul. She continued her faithful devotion at St. Michael’s Church in Duluth, where she sang in the choir, created beautiful church banners and volunteered for many church activities, including as a communion minister at St. Luke’s Hospital, which she enjoyed very much as it combined both of her avocations. She worked with students from the UMD College of Pharmacy assisting them with their practical training. Joanne was an extremely gifted seamstress and there wasn’t a craft or project she couldn’t do with flair and creativity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilfred and Helen, her sister Mary, her sister Joyce Gardner and her brother Donald Juenemann.

Joanne is survived by her daughter, Kristin (Jim) Jarocki; their children and grandchild: Alexander (Brittany), and their son Carter; Catherine (Landon Brodersen); Christopher (Shannon Riley); Andrew; and Elizabeth. Daughter Anne Trevis; her children, Justin (Jackie) and their children Serenity, Kaylee, Grace and Olivia; Taina, Nate and Angel. Joanne’s sister Donna (Chuck) LaBarre; their son Craig (Deb); and special friends, Joni and Sharon, who cared lovingly for Joanne. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Tim Kleinschmidt and the staff of St. Luke’s who cared so much and so often for Joanne.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 14th, starting at 10:00 a.m., with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Ecumen Lakeshore Chapel, 4000 London Road, Duluth, MN. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Stella Maris Academy, 4321 Allendale Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, or at https://www.stellamaris.academy/give. Sign the online register book at dfhduluth.com.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805, (218)727-3555.