Theresa “JoAnn” (Kunkel) Mertens
November 5, 1941 ~ April 22, 2023
JoAnn Mertens, 81, Brandon, SD, passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital.
A Celebration of Life with family present will be 2-4pm, Sunday, April 30, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a Prayer Service and the Rosary Service beginning at 4pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11am, Monday, May 1, 2023, at Risen Savior Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St Michael’s Cemetery in Sioux Falls. A Live Stream link to watch live https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HpT1WAc7Cvl In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed to Risen Savior Catholic Church in her honor.
Theresa JoAnn Kunkel was born November 5, 1941, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Henry and Clara (Aurit) Kunkel. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1959. She was a charter member of Risen Savior Catholic Church, in Brandon, where she remained active as Eucharistic Minister. She enjoyed time with Young at Heart luncheons on Wednesday evenings, religion classes, working in the Prayer Garden, and Bible studies. Agnes, as her friends and neighbors called her, loved to socialize and play Bunco in her spare time. She drove a school bus for twenty years for the Brandon Valley School District, and worked many years with the Sunshine grocery store, enjoying many trips with the Bosch family to Arizona and Hawaii.
JoAnn was grateful for sharing her life with her five children, Kim (Betsy) Mertens, Lennox, SD, Sharon (Matt) Wirth, Viborg, SD, Lisa (Joe) Hjermstad, Brandon, SD, Tammy (Sandy) Mertens-Jones, Sioux Falls, SD, and Steven (Camille) Mertens, Springfield, SD; two bonus kids, Emily Hanson, Sisseton, SD, and Phillip Mertens, Veblen, SD; twenty-two grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, William “Bill” Kunkel, Omaha, NE; and a lifelong friend, Shirley Larrington, Rapid City, SD; as well as many other friends and relatives.
JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Kathleen Walker, and Margaret Johnson; and two brothers, Dale Kunkel, and Robert Kunkel.
Jo became a great friend with her years going to the pool at the Wellness Center. She brought humor and fun to all. She became like a mom or older sister to me. She loved her family and church. I will miss our hugs and conversations. May God bless her memory.
My dear beloved friend, I am so saddened to hear of your passing. So many wonderful memories I have of you. You were my oldest son’s Godmother many, many years ago. Even though we left South Dakota a long time ago, I always made sure to see you when I came home to visit. The last visit was in 2019 when several of us got together and I am so thankful for that. God bless you and your family. You will be sorely missed. Love forever.
Our friendship goes back many years and no matter how long we didn’t see each other, it was like we always picked up wherewe left off. RIP dear friend.
Jo will be greatly missed. What a blessing she was to my Mom. I will miss your wonderful smile and sense of humor. I wish comfort to your family.
Sue