Joan Brown, age 85, of Edina, formerly of Alexandria, left this earthly world on February 15, 2016 to be greeted in Heaven by her husband, Chuck. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11AM with visitation 1-hour prior at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina. Pastor Chuck Humphrey will preside. Urn bearers will be Joan’s grandchildren. Joan will be laid to rest with her husband at Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria. A family graveside service will be held at a later date.
It was on May 2, 1930 that Earle and Naomi Moede celebrated the birth of their daughter, Joan Moede. Joan spent her early childhood living in Alexandria, MN and Watertown, SD. After graduating high school, Joan continued to pursue her education. She attended Grinnell College in Iowa where she earned a Bachelor of Art in speech and language pathology. Joan attended the University of Minnesota where she received her Master’s degree. Coming from a long line of educators, Joan followed in her family’s footsteps, as did her children. She worked for the Portland Oregon School District in 1954 -1956 and with the Minneapolis Public School District as a speech and language pathologist and teacher on special assignment from 1956 until her retirement in 1991.
It was at Grinnell College that Joan met a young man, Charles C. Brown. She knew that he would be the love of her life. Joan and Chuck exchanged wedding vows on August 16, 1956. The young couple started their family and were blessed with two wonderful children, Earle and Toby. Joan and Chuck raised their family in Edina before moving to Bloomington in 1995.
Joan was active within her community. She was a member of Normandale Lutheran Church and belonged to numerous bridge and book clubs, bible studies, and breakfast clubs. She loved to host party’s in her home with friends and family. Joan also volunteered as a P.E.O sister in the Philanthropic Educational Organization.
There are endless adjectives to describe Joan. Simply stated, she was a beautiful person. She will be greatly missed by her son, Earle (Sue) Moede Brown of Alexandria; daughter, Toby Ellen Brown-Finley of Prior Lake; grandchildren, U.S. Army Specialist Kevin Charles Brown and fiancé Kelsey Goergen, Katelyn “Katie” Mary Brown, U.S. Army Specialist Joseph Earle Brown, Jordan Michael Finley, Dylan Joseph Finley, Kayla Joan Finley; cousin, Michael Evans; special friend and care provider, Laurie von Felden. Joan has already been greeted in Heaven by her loving husband, Chuck; her parents, Earle and Naomi; and aunts and uncle, Toby, Ariel, Timmie (Harold), and Mike.
