JoAnn Mary Frey

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 1:20 pm

JoAnn Mary Frey, 86, passed away peacefully in her home at the Waters on 50th in Minneapolis, Minn., Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. A Celebration of Life Service for JoAnn is at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with Rev. Donald Hertges officiating. Inurnment is in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in Spillville. Visitation begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah.

JoAnn was born Oct. 13, 1932, in Calmar, to Walter and Mary E. (Suchan) Frey. JoAnn graduated from Calmar High School in 1949, and went on to graduate from University of Iowa in 1955. She moved to California and taught in Huntington Beach for three years. She then moved to San Francisco where she worked in the patent library at Chevron Research for 10 years. She then went on to teach in the San Francisco Public School system, later earning a master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University. JoAnn culminated her career as the librarian at Galileo High School.

JoAnn loved California and all it had to offer in outdoor activities along with the arts. She was a supporter of the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park and enjoyed taking family there when they visited. She also enjoyed traveling and took many trips all over the world with friends, family and fellow members of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Her travels included Africa, Russia, Europe, Singapore, Thailand and India, among others. She moved to Minneapolis in 2017 to be closer to family members.

Left to share fond memories are her nieces: Kris (Ben) Berggren Olk, Mary Cary, Cindy Cary and her nephews: Mark (Stephanie) Berggren, Dan (Sheila) Berggren, Lyle (Marybeth) Cary, Bill (Yvonne) Cary, Tom (Dodie) Frey and Steve Eickhoff and several great nieces and nephews. Also a best friend for many years, Julie Hatcher of Redding, Calif.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters: Kathy (Dick) Berggren, Marian Eickhoff and Jean (Lyle) Cary; and great-nephew, Nils Berggren.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.