Joan A. Rindfleisch, age 91, peacefully passed away June 12, 2024, at Cura Care Center in Melrose, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Joan was born Oct. 28, 1932, in Minnesota Lake to Art and Loretta (Stencel) Beske. Joan excelled in athletics, art, music and her studies, and won several contests, landing a trip to New York to compete on Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour. After studying at Mankato State Teachers’ College, Joan began her teaching career in 1952. Joan taught in Waldorf and Minnesota Lake for one year each, and in Wells for over 30 years, eventually completing her master’s degree in teaching. She was a much-loved teacher.
On Dec. 26, 1953, Joan married the love of her life, Al Rindfleisch, while he was on a short leave during the Korean War. To this union were born two children, Mary Jo and Kurt. Joan and Al enjoyed many years of cabin life at Bass Lake in southern Minnesota. After Al retired from farming and Joan retired from teaching, the couple spent many enjoyable years snow-birding at their home in Mesa, Arizona, and spent their summers on Big Sauk Lake. Joan and Al made many friends in their “new” towns, both playing a lot of golf, and Joan playing a lot of bridge.
Joan is survived by her husband, Al, and daughter Mary Jo (Wayne) Yokiel, and her nieces, Carey (Tim) Bell and Molly Stende, and nephew Kurt (Suzanne Reed) Stende. She is predeceased by her parents, in-laws Ed and Adelheid Rindfleisch, sister Janet, and her husband, Greg Stende, infant son, Kurt, and many of Mary Jo and Wayne’s grandkitties.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 p.m. June 20, at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, with the Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. Interment will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Minnesota Lake, at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, with the Rev. Pratap Salibindla officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.
