JoAnn Burns

JoAnn L. Burns, age 67, of Waite Park and formerly of Atwater and Olivia, passed away on Dec. 31, at Heritage of Foley surrounded by her loving family following a long battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.


A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 noon on Friday, Jan. 12, at the United Methodist Church in Atwater. Interment will be at a later date at the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.


JoAnn Lynn (Berg) Burns was born on June 14, 1950, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Wallace and Marion (Swanson) Berg. She grew up in Atwater and graduated from Atwater High School in 1968. On May 13, 1975, in Sisseton, South Dakota, JoAnn was united in marriage to Edward Allen Burns. They made their home in the communities of Atwater and Olivia. She became a loving mother to Edward's five children and together they welcomed three more children. Throughout her life, JoAnn was active in 4-H, bowling league and enjoyed helping on the family farm. She also drove semi with her husband, Edward. JoAnn also worked as a dietary aide at the Olivia Hospital and at the Anoka County Jail. In 2005, she retired due to the progression of her COPD. JoAnn became an advocate for residents within the assisted living communities in which she lived. JoAnn took pride in making birthday signs that were placed on the residents doors when it was their birthday. She cherished spending time with all her family. Her hobbies included embroidery, bingo and playing cards.


She is survived by seven children, Leane Just (and Peter Altmann) of New Ulm, Edward Burns Jr. of Walker, Phyllis White of Deer River, Terrance Burns of Tuscon, AZ., Carrie (and Jeremy) Hebert of Ft. Ripley, Evelyn (and Thomas) Koshenina of St. Cloud and Charles (and Leah) Burns of Elk River; twenty-four grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward in 2003; one daughter, Shelly Garberich in 2006 and three brothers, Robert, James and John.

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