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Joan M. Wortz, age 90, of Watkins, died Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at the Hilltop Care Center in Watkins, knowing she was deeply loved by her family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Watkins, with Fr. Aaron Nett as Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday, both in the parish center. A prayer service will be held 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home website. Memorials are preferred to the Hilltop Health Care Center.
Joan Margaret Wortz was born March 25, 1931, near Pearl Lake, Minnesota, one of ten children born to Anton and Mary (Loesch) Pelzer. In her youth, Joan and her siblings, spent their childhood on Pearl Lake fishing, swimming, and ice-skating. Joan attended school in Kimball, graduating with the Class of 1949. On April 12,1951 Joan was united in marriage to Lloyd J. Wortz at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pearl Lake. They made their home in Watkins, where their eight children were raised. While Lloyd worked outside the home, Joan cared for their home and children, always with a song in her heart. She worked hard at making their house a home, whether it be sewing clothes for the kids, preparing the meals, or by making the home feel like all are welcomed and loved. Joan's faith was also central to her life. She was a longtime member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, where she was active with the Christian Mother's, volunteering at all events, most lovingly helped create quilts, and she and Lloyd loved singing in the choir. She was also a member of Catholic Order of Foresters. Joan enjoyed sewing and quilting, and many of her creations are treasured by her family and other lucky recipients of her talents. She loved tending to her flowers and singing, very often at the same time. A special pastime over the years was the evenings she and Lloyd spent playing cards with their dear friends, Julius and Dolores Faber, Don and Corrine Froehling, Eldred and Leila Froehling, and Kenneth and Marge Hennen. Of all the enjoyment and cherished times Joan experienced in her 90 years, nothing brought her more happiness than being in the presence of her family. She relished her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her dazzling smile proceeded her always and was a gift to us all.
Joan is survived by her children, Lloyd (Carol) Wortz of Lester Prairie, Mary Jo (Steve) Quill of Monticello, Connie (Dan) Haag of Paynesville, LuAnn (Jim) Sieben of Spicer, Donna (Tim) Theis of Eden Valley, Brian (Chris) Wortz of Fairfax, Brenda (Greg) Tiemens of Becker, and Allan (Coletta) Wortz of Hutchinson; 26 grandchildren, Adam, Tyler, Hannah, Chad, Jason, Tiffani, Jordan, Taylor, Amanda, Brook, Jared, Matthew, Kelley, Katie, Andrea, Amber, Brandon, Samantha, Sara, Sabrina, Alexandra, Logan, Tori, Elizabeth, Parker, and Chloe; 31 great-grandchildren, Ashlynn, Chase, Nolan, Noelle, Callista, Jillian, Titus, Chapel, Ben, Ian, Peyton, Piper, Harper, Vincent, Michael, Thomas, Greyson, Ella, Maya, Emmett, Hadden, Olivia, Noah, Clarke, Oliver, Jonathan, Charlotte, Gavin, Teagan, Quinn, and Owen; sister, Esther Decker of Cold Spring and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; parents, Anton and Mary; and siblings, Sylvester, Rosemary, Grace, Andy, Viola, Phyllis, Anthony, and Germaine.
Adam Wortz, Chad Quill, Jordan Haag, Jared Sieben, Matthew Theis, Brandon Wortz, Sara Lee, and Logan Wortz will serve as pallbearers. Mary Streit and the St. Anthony Choir will provide music for the service.
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