JoAnne Havelka, 84, Rochester

JoAnne Catherine (Kay) Havelka, age 84, passed away peacefully in Rochester with family on May 4, 2025.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 512 S. Elm Ave., Owatonna. Friends may greet the family at the church from 9-11 a.m. Interment will follow the funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

JoAnne was born in Minneapolis, on May 13,1940, the second child of Calvin and Catherine (Schminder) Thomas. She grew up on a farm and graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, MN. She graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She was a social worker for Catholic Charities of Winona-Rochester Diocese, Steele County Social Services, and Child Study Center, and was a Guardian ad Litem in Steele County. In 1966, she was the Minnesota delegate for International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) and took a trip of a lifetime to Turkey, an experience she shared all her life.

On April 8, 1967, she married Otto John Havelka at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna. Together, they owned H & S Distributing and All Seasons Storage. They traveled extensively in all 50 states and six continents. JoAnne’s greatest gifts were her four children and eight grandchildren. She spent many hours watching their activities. Family outings were a treasure, especially trips.

Being active in the community was important to JoAnne, as well, and she participated in Woman’s Club, Meals on Wheels, Contact, Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of the Arts, and Red Tonna Bonnets. At St. Joseph Church, she was an usher, Befriender, Eucharistic Minister for Homebound, coordinator for the Nursery school, and a member of the funeral committee. She also served as the AFS chairman for Marion High.

JoAnne is survived by her children John (Amy Jo) Havelka, Owatonna, Craig (Lisa) Havelka, Medford, Jodi Havelka, Grant, Mich., and Cindy (LeRoy) Purrier, Rochester; grandchildren: Eli, Abe, Sol, and Kate Havelka, Colton and Taylor Havelka, and Emma and Abby Purrier; sister Rose Marie Steiner; brother Paul Thomas; and a special foster child, Linda.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Otto, sister Barbara Kelly-Inouye, and niece Paulo Thomas.

Memorials are preferred to Community Pathways, Crisis Resource Center, or donor’s choice.

For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.