Joan Votava, age 73, of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, Minnesota. Memorial services were held Monday, January 6, 2020, at Living Word Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota. Interment was held in the Hamlin Reformed Church Cemetery near Castlewood, South Dakota. Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota handled the arrangements.
Joan Beth Lee was born on September 5, 1946, in Watertown, South Dakota, to parents Robert and Ruth (Sikkink) Lee. She was baptized as an infant in the Reformed Church and grew up near Castlewood, South Dakota. Joan attended country school and then graduated from Brookings High School with the class of 1964 before continuing her education at South Dakota State University, graduating in 1968 with a home economics degree.
On March 29, 1975, Joan was united in marriage to Donald Votava in Brookings. The couple made their home in Owen, Wisconsin, before moving to Marshall, Minnesota, in 1976. They built their current house the following year and raised 2 daughters there: Jana and Alison. In addition to being a loving mother and wife, Joan taught preschool in the ECFE program for many years. She then began to work in customer service for Schwan’s, retiring in 2013.
Joan was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship and attended many Bible studies. She enjoyed scrapbooking, card making, flower arranging, and made hundreds of bows for gifts, weddings, and other events.
Joan Votava went to be with the Lord on January 1, 2020, in Marshall, Minnesota, at the age of 73 years, 4 months, and 27 days. Blessed be her memory.
Joan is survived by her husband, Don Votava of Marshall; daughters, Jana Votava (Darwin Towne) of Marshall, Alison Votava of Forest Lake; grandchildren, Elise Meseck, Abigail Vogel, Brenna Vogel, Corbin Vogel, Delaynie Vogel; mother, Ruth Lee of Balaton; sisters, Cheryl (Curt) Friese of Balaton, Linda Ozkan of Solana Beach, CA; sister-in-law, Julie Lee of Scottsbluff, NE; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Lee, Sr., and 2 brothers, David Paul and Robert Lee, Jr.