Joleen Birkholz

Joleen A. Birkholz, age 72, of Pennock, died Monday morning, May 19, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar with Rev. Steven Bielenberg officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.

Joleen Ann Birkholz was born June 8, 1935, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the daughter of Elroy and Frieda (Lang) Bruess. She grew up in Sleepy Eye and later moved with her family to Benson. On August 29, 1953, she married Virgil Birkholz at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Benson. They were the first couple married in the church. Joleen and Virgil made their home in Benson until 1957, when they moved to Willmar. In 1963, they moved to Diamond Lake near Atwater. Joleen worked at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Willmar. In 1985, they moved to Luverne where Joleen worked as assistant manager of Casey's General Store. In 2000, they retired and moved to Pennock. Joleen enjoyed Twins baseball, Vikings football, traveling with Virgil and boating, water skiing and fishing while living on Diamond Lake. She also enjoyed bowling and bowled in several bowling leagues.

She is survived by a brother Elroy Jr. (and Ruth) Bruess of Benson, a sister, Corrine (and Don) Larsen of Hayden Lake, Idaho; several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Virgil in 2004; and a brother, Roger Bruess.