JoAnn Racheal Oelke

JoAnn Racheal (McCullough) Oelke, 88, of Dilworth, MN passed away, with family at her side. On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Serenity Assisted Living under the care of Serenity Staff & Ethos Hospice in Dilworth, MN.

JoAnn was born on January 5, 1935, to Joseph and Ethel (Smalley) McCullough with her twin sister, Jean. They were numbers, seven and eight, of the family. They were not just sisters and twins, they cared genuinely for each other and had a special bond through their lives.  She grew up on the family farm West of Hope, ND and attended schools in Hope, ND, where she graduated from High School in 1953. After graduation, she moved to Fargo, ND, where she worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for two years.

On March 27, 1955, she was united in marriage to Eugene Oelke at Hope Methodist Church. They made their home in Moorhead, MN, for a short time. In 1959, they purchased an acreage in Oakport Township where she lived until 2008 when she moved to south Moorhead.

JoAnn was a busy sister, wife and mother. She also helped with Eugene’s lawn building business, E.M. Oelke Lawnbuilders, in her younger years. Soon she became a grandmother, who adored her 11 grandchildren. Attending as many activities as she could. Then came 21 great grandchildren to give more Love too!

In 1983, JoAnn went back to work for St. Luke’s where she eventually retired in 1996 after 13 years at the Hospitality Shop, in food service. In her retirement, she was very active at her church, Grace United Methodist, with weddings, quilting, doughnut making, and Women of Grace. She enjoyed many groups with friends and family. Including coffee, homemakers, birthday, cards, and breakfast groups. JoAnn organized and taught the Women of Grace how to make her famous family doughnut recipe for a church fundraiser that has continued to raise money for the church for over 11 years.  Her passion for baking and cooking started at a young age and she made sure to teach her grandchildren how to make buns and caramel rolls. She loved traveling with Eugene and enjoyed wintering in Arizona and spending time with his family in California. Eugene retired in spring of 2006 from Lawnbuilding. He passed away on October 24, 2006 of pancreatic cancer. When JoAnn wasn’t on a sister’s trip, sharing her hospitality or being a servant leader; her hobby and passion was quilt making. She made many quilts for her family, each one of the receiving a treasure for holidays, graduation, a wedding gift or a birth, along with many other special occasions. ‘We’re covered by a quilt of love. It warms us like no other. God used the hands of one so dear, the one we call Grandmother.’

JoAnn is survived by her loving children, Julie (Larry) Possehl, Glenn (Julie) Oelke, Mark (Joan) Oelke, and Kathleen (Duane) Tretter; daughter at heart, Sue Voelker; grandchildren, Amy Jo Possehl, Joseph (Desiree) Possehl, John (Marissa) Oelke, Jennifer (James) Richford, Kate (Rick) Heck, Kyle (Marlee) Oelke, Jim (Kristy) Buckley, Lacy (Trevor) Eccles, Lynsey (Casey) Harrod, RachealAnn (Jacob) Johnson, and Kelsey (Jordon) Yanish; great-grandchildren, Donavin Possehl, Ayanna Poitra/Possehl, Colton, Addison, and Morgon Possehl, Riley, Baxter, and Sully Rickford, Robert and Frederick Oelke, Tristan, Emma, and Finley Oelke, Bearet and Tucker Buckley, Dempsey and Finn Harrod, Duke and Owen Johnson, and Tucker and Eliza Yanish; sister, Shirley Aman; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; parents, Joseph and Ethel; brothers, Charles, Glen, Everett, and Milton; sisters, Ardis, Marlys, and twin, Jean.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., followed by the prayer service at 7:00 P.M., Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Grace United Methodist Church, Moorhead, MN. Visitation will continue from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 A.M., Monday, January 8, 2024, at Grace United Methodist, Moorhead, MN. A livestream of the service will be available on her webpage at www.wrightfuneral.com where a guestbook and video tribute may also be found. Graveside service will follow at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Ethos Hospice, Grace United Methodist Church, Women of Grace, or Serenity Assisted Living Activities/Staff.

A livestream of the service can be found by clicking the following link. https://fb.me/e/3o50d44ES