Joy Juanita (Karl) Swan

In Loving memory of

Joy Juanita Swan

Joy Swan was born on March 3, 1929 on the family farm in Slayton Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Martin “Gene” and Anna Volk Karl.  The family lived on a farm north of Slayton before moving to a farm east of Slayton.  In 1937 the family moved to Slayton where Joy attended Slayton School.  On January 25, 1948 she and Arvid Swan were married in Slayton.  Following their marriage they moved to Arvid’s farm site north of Hadley, MN and raised their three daughters.  When Joy was not working on the farm or chasing after her three girls, she was busy baking cakes and decorating them, painting indoors and out buildings with her sister-in-law, Tena throughout the Hadley area or trapping Pocket Gophers.  Arvid passed away on August 17, 2015.  Joy remained on the Swan Century farm until 2018 when she moved to the Slayton Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.  In 2019 she moved to the Minneota Manor in Minneota, MN where she passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at the age of 91.  She was a former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lowville Twp.  where she was active in the Altar Guild, taught Sunday school, was a member of the ladies aid and also a member of the Kazoo Band.  Following the closing of St. John’s Church they joined Hadley Lutheran Church where she continued her involvement with the Altar Guild, ladies aid, made wall banners, was a supporter of Luther League, attended Bible study.  She and Arvid also served as church custodian for many years.  Joy was a member of the local Birthday Club and she and Arvid also belong to a card club.  Joy enjoyed baking, quilting, sewing, embroidering, gardening, flowers, and loving watching old westerns, the Hallmark channel and old time Polka shows.  Joy’s favorite thing was time spent with her family.

Survivors include her three daughters, Roseann Swan of Hadley, MN, Doris Swan of Rock Rapids, IA, and Gail Mitchell and her husband, Lee of Harrisburg, SD, three grandchildren, Amy Schreiner and Mandy Johnson, Adam and Heather Willert, and Melissa and TJ Chaplin, four great-grandchildren, three siblings, and their spouses, Wallace and Betty Karl of Alexandria, MN, Calvin Karl of Scandia, MN, and Lois and LeRoy Bruns of Lake Crystal, MN and several nieces and nephews and their families.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Arvid, brother, Virgil Karl and his wife, LeVina, twin sister, Joyce Borman and her husband, Loren and sister-in-law, Ranae Rogers.

Memorial services

Hadley Lutheran Church in Hadley, MN on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Robert Ossefoort officiating.  The organist is Sharon Lais.  The Pallbearers are Lee Mitchell, Amy Schreiner, Adam Willert, Melissa Chaplin, Gordon Swan, and Richard Swan.  Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN.  Following the interment the family will gather at Gullord Park in Slayton for a time of food and fellowship.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.

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