JoAnn Mary Carpenter

JoAnn Mary (Kozak) Carpenter was born February 16th, 1946 to Edward and Bessie Kozak of Pine City. She grew up on the farmstead that belonged to her grandfather James Kozak. She grew up with her two older brothers, Ted and Ben and her cousin Dean Strassner, who lived next door. They enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing, swimming and waterskiing. These were cherished childhood memories for JoAnn. JoAnn attended Grammar School in Beroun until the 6th grade and graduated from Pine City High School in 1964. Her first job after graduation was a nursing assistant in the baby ward, at the Cambridge State Hospital. She married her high school sweetheart Dallas Carpenter on August 21st, 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City. She continued working until her daughter Chris was born in 1967 and then worked briefly at Fingerhut until her son Michael was born in 1969. JoAnn also worked at Atscott, Fingerhut, Plastech and for J & K Builders, which was owned by Gene Jewel and her brother Ted Kozak. She especially enjoyed working outdoors and building things with her brother. JoAnn worked with Ted & Gene until 1990 and also worked for her other brother Ben Kozak at Ever-Ready Machine and the Ever-Ready Furniture Store for eleven years. In 2001, she started working at Ace Hardware as a sales clerk and paint person. She started working in downtown Pine City and continued working at Ace Hardware after they moved to their current location. In 2011, JoAnn was forced to quit working due to her illness. There wasn’t anything JoAnn couldn’t do, she was very hard working; physical work did not bother her. She helped build their first house in 1971, she helped Dallas with farm work, raising pigs, beef cattle, and other chores, doing whatever needed to be done. In 1986, Dallas and JoAnn bought horses. This was the start of many adventures such as going elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado. They enjoyed and loved their horseback riding excursions with friends in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Her favorite trip was an actual cattle drive in Montana that they got to help with. She loved the outdoors, wildlife, and birds, especially cardinals. She enjoyed going for walks in the woods, deer hunting, and shooting “the big 8”, the biggest buck of her lifetime in 2010. JoAnn was a lifelong member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City. She was confirmed there in 1962. She served in various capacities with VBS, the funeral committee, and painting the Preschool room. She raised and loved her two children and her seven grandchildren who she also enjoyed spending time with. She enjoyed many camping trips, weekend excursions, and all the family times. She especially liked garage sales and thrift stores. She loved finding a bargain, but the bargains always seemed to find her. Dallas and JoAnn were married for 46 years and 5 months. She was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer on August 15, 2011, and went home to the Lord on January 21, 2012. She never complained, humbly taking her days as they came, wishing she could be here longer, but knowing God would take her sooner. She had peace in her heart, knowing that we will all leave this earth, and she would be in heaven. She is survived by her husband Dallas, daughter Chris (Jeff) Johnson of Pine City, son Michael (Betsy) Carpenter of Pine City; grandchildren Isaac, Mariah, Jed, Shania Johnson, Maria, Emily and Jared Carpenter and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Ed & Bessie (Pavek) Kozak, brothers Ben Kozak and Ted Kozak, and her nephew Jeff Kozak. Rev. Glen Kleppe officiated at funeral services; 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City, Minnesota. A time of visitation and reviewal was held Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Swanson Funeral Chapel and 1 hour prior to the service at the church. The family requests that memorials be given to the Zion Lutheran Church pre-school fund. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Swanson Chapel of Pine City.