Joanne Lorraine Valentin

Joanne Valentin, age 82, of Shakopee and formerly of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee, Minnesota.

Visitation and Memorial Services are currently pending, likely to be held in July 2024. Interment will be in the Marshall Cemetery, Marshall, Minnesota.

Joanne Lorraine Schaffran was born May 22, 1941, to George and Gesena "Sene" (Schmiesing) Schaffran. The youngest of 4 children, Joanne was born on the family farm in Lucan, Minnesota. She graduated in 1959 from Wabasso High School and then moved to Minneapolis and worked for Northwestern Bell.  

On June 3, 1960, Joanne met Jim Valentin on the back of a Greyhound bus as she headed home for a family graduation.  They were married on March 4, 1961, in the Johnsonville Lutheran Church in Lucan, Minnesota. During their 60 years of marriage, Joanne and Jim made their home in Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and then Marshall. While in Marshall, they opened their home to exchange students, a teacher from China, and others who needed a place to stay while they were in Marshall.

Joanne loved her boys, she always said “her boys are her life”. She enjoyed attending as many of their activities as she could. Besides being a homemaker and raising their 2 boys, Joanne worked as a Teacher’s Aide for the Bloomington School District. Later, after moving to Marshall, she worked as the church secretary at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, at JC Penney catalog, Kmart, and also as a receptionist for the Marshall Independent newspaper.

Joanne loved giving anyone and everyone a hard time with her quick wit. During her retirement she enjoyed spending time at the lake, collecting snow villages, serving as a bailiff for Lyon County, and assisting as a wedding coordinator for many weddings. Joanne and Jim volunteered extensively at First Lutheran Church – they were active as ushers, coffee servers, and sponsored many radio broadcasts among other roles.  Joanne enjoyed playing cards, calling Bingo every week at Hardees, and she even continued her Bingo calling career at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee.  Joanne cherished her grandkids and grand puppies.

Joanne Valentin died peacefully on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shakopee, Minnesota. She had reached the age of 82 years, 11 months, and 3 days. Blessed be her memory.

Joanne leaves behind her sons, David Valentin of Shakopee, MN, and Dean Valentin of Rice Lake, WI; 3 grandchildren, Londyn Valentin of Shakopee, MN, Garrett Valentin of Albuquerque, NM, and Lyndsey Valentin of Albuquerque, NM; sister, Darlene Christensen of Hoffman, MN; brothers in-laws, Bruno Valentin, Robert Valentin, and John Valentin; sisters in-law, Martha Keil and Mary Ann Ruhland; along with many sisters-in-law,  brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, and extended family. 

She was proceeded in death by her parents, George and Gesena; husband, James "Jim" Valentin; brothers, Lester Schaffran, Dennis Schaffran; brothers-in-law, Karl Valentin, William Valentin, Walter Valentin, Arnold Valentin, Richard Valentin; and sisters-in-law, Helen Valentin and Margaret Anderson.