Longtime McMinnville resident JoAnn Elaine Stender, 81, died Friday April 12, at the Derby Health and Rehabilitation Center in Derby, Kansas, after a lengthy illness.
JoAnn, known as Granny to her grandkids, was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Nov. 29, 1937 to Thelma Clairece (Brostrom) Janssen and Lawrence Edwin Eastlund. JoAnn was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church for the past 38 years, and was an active volunteer at the McMinnville Food Bank. JoAnn and husband John, were avid treasure hunters in search of the perfect antique piece to put in their home. They loved to travel and spend time visiting with their children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother Thelma, her father Lawrence, her little sister Judith, and her loving husband, John, also known as Pop Pop to the grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by son-in-law, Thomas Jay Hackley.
She is survived by her daughters, Lori Jo Stender of Eagle River, Alaska, Vickie Lynn Hackley of Mulvane, Kansas, Tracy Ann Ryan, of Statesville, North Carolina, and her son, Michael John Stender and his wife Cynthia of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as well as her brother Robert Eastlund and his wife Joan.
JoAnn has nine grandchildren, Nicole, Kayla, Gillian, Brennan, Alyssa, Sarah, Aleiagrace, Douglas, and Rachael, and two great grandchildren, Whaylen and Leland, with two more great grandchildren on the way.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. at McMinnville Funeral Home. Services will be held on Friday, April 19 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Officiating the services will be Pastor David McMinn of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, with interment at Mt. View Cemetery.
We would like to thank the kind staff at the Derby Health and Rehabilitation Center along with Heartland Hospice who looked after our mother in her final days. In lieu of flowers, she requested donations made to the following: McMinnville Food Bank, Heartland Hospice, and charities of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) April 17, 2019
