JoAnn Faye Mohn was born on October 15th, 1940, in Detroit Lakes, MN, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Kiehl) Anderson of Detroit Lakes, MN. She grew up in the Detroit Lakes area and attended country schools and eventually attended Detroit Lakes Public High School.

On March 27th, 1957, she married Richard Mohn of Detroit Lakes. To this union they had five children.

As a young adult and raising five children, JoAnn worked as a waitress at a café in Callaway, MN, then began working at the Detroit Lakes Paint and Glass store. From there she worked at Pfiefer’s Linoleum in Detroit Lakes. In true independent and entrepreneurial style, she then opened an upholstery business in Detroit Lakes called JoDee Upholstery with a longtime friend. After several years of upholstering, she decided to open and help build a Western shop at the farm where she and her husband lived. Here she sold saddles and tack items along with western clothing and jewelry. During this time, JoAnn was also raising several milk goats as a hobby. Over the years she cared for a total of 140 goats. She always had a big heart for animals and never lived a minute without some kind of 2-or-4-legged pet at her home. She owned and loved many different animals throughout the years.

In 1995, Richard and JoAnn divorced after 38 years of marriage.

Words that describe JoAnn are industrious, determined, fiercely independent, creative, strong-willed, unconventional, energetic and intelligent. When she had an idea, she researched it, gathered the materials and jumped in and got things done. She didn’t believe in the word “can’t”. JoAnn always said that if someone else could do it she can do it too.

JoAnn wasn’t content unless she was making or building something. She would easily build lawn furniture, bird houses, an outside fishpond with a waterfall, outdoor barbecue grill, picnic table, windmill for her flower garden, etc. Beautiful flowers and vegetable gardens were always a part of the scenery at all her various homes. JoAnn was admired by many for her industriousness and ability to accomplish so much in her life. Her five children remember watching a very smart and talented mom who had limitless energy and was always surprising them with her ability to accomplish just about anything.

JoAnn is survived by her son, Kevin (Jill) Mohn, Frazee, daughter, Linda (Greg) Morris, Moorhead, son, Robert “Bob” Mohn, Callaway, brothers, Kenneth Anderson, Fargo, and Jerry (Cathy) Anderson, Pennsylvania, ten grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, in-laws, nephews, a niece and friends.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Annie Anderson, ex-husband Richard (Dick) Mohn, son, Ron Mohn and daughter, Connie Ackerson.