JoAnn Marlys Mead was born on February 9, 1945, in Westbrook, Minnesota, to the late Elmer and Hattie (Kuehl) Horkey. She began her education in Country School, District 48 and later attended Westbrook High School. She grew up in the Lutheran faith and was a longtime member of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom.

JoAnn was united in marriage to Robert Mead on June 19, 1970, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake, Minnesota. Their union was blessed with three children, Troy, Chad, and Amy. JoAnn loved being a mother and homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her children and later her grandsons, Caleb and Daniel. In her free time, JoAnn appreciated time spent outdoors – going for walks or planting flowers. She could spend hours baking, reading, and challenging herself with word searches.

JoAnn Marlys Mead passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society – Sogge Memorial in Windom, Minnesota, at the age of 79 years.

She is survived by her three children, Troy Mead of Windom, Chad (Kristin) Mead of Mankato, and Amy Mead of Windom; grandsons, Caleb and Daniel Mead; sister, Lois (Willie) Huerkamp of Elysian; brother, Larry Horkey of Westbrook, as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Robert Mead; parents, Elmer and Hattie Horkey; brothers, Arlan, Richard, Myron "Mike", Russell, and Maynard Horkey; sisters, Violet and Bernice Grunewald, and Joyce Voelker.

Blessed be the memory of JoAnn Marlys Mead.

A Mass of Christian Burial for JoAnn Mead, age 79, of Windom, will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 1:30 PM at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom, Minnesota, with Father Pratap officiating. Burial will be at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Windom. The service will be livestreamed on the Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church Facebook page.

A time of visitation will be held two hours prior to the service on Saturday, February 24th at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.