The heart and hands that reached out to teach and help so many, are now at rest in the hands of the Lord.
82-year old Joan O'Connor Bronken of Oklee, Minnesota passed away on January 26, 2008 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center at Erskine, MN.

The funeral Mass will be held on 11am on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee, MN. Burial will be held in the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Cemetery at Oklee.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday evening from 5pm to 8pm at Johnson Funeral Service in Oklee, MN with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.

Joan was the fourth of twelve children, born to Archie B and Margaret(O'Sullivan) O'Connor. She came into the world on January 25, 1926 and left peacefully surrounded by her beloved children.

Despite growing up in the Great Depression and attending High School in St Thomas, ND during World War II; Joan was always an optimist and took great delight in every aspect of her life. After graduating from St Thomas High School in 1944, she went on to teach in a one room country school for one year, before attending college in St Paul, MN at her mother's alma mater, St Catherine's.

The War ended and the boys came home, so fun loving Joan left the all girls' school for UND where she joined the Gamma Phi Sorority and met a good looking WWII Vet named Marvin Bronken. The day following their college graduation, June 13, 1949, Marvin and Joan started their married life together.

Their teaching careers and their growing family began in McVille, ND where they lived for seven years and made many life long friendships. In 1956, an administrative education opportunity brought Marvin, Joan and the first four of their seven children to Oklee, MN. After 30 years of service in education, they retired in 1986 and enjoyed many years traveling, volunteer work, community service and many gatherings of family and friends.

Throughout her life, her love of music, lead her to years of performing and directing. She sang at weddings, funerals and formed an Ecumenical Choir that sang at Thanksgiving and Christmas services for many years. She shared that love of music with her Elementary School music students, performances at Operettas and directed the Choirs at school and at her church, St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee.

Joan was very active in the Oklee Community and loved to entertain old and new friends. She was a member of Bridge Club, several Birthday Clubs and was a Senior Site volunteer. She also wrote a column for the Oklee Herald and helped out at the school music department with solos and ensemble contests.

Joan is survived by husband, Marvin, Erskine, MN; her children: Barb (Cliff) Melby, Oklee, MN, Beth (Neil) Carlson, Crookston, MN, Holly Bronken, Minneapolis, MN, Jim (Tracy) Bronken, Boise, ID, Margaret (Bob) Olmstead, Boise, ID, Rich Bronken, Pueblo West, CO, Peter (Leah) Bronken, Zimmerman, MN; her grandchildren: Isaac (Marcella) Melby, Jacob (Cindy) Melby, Erin (Kevin) Crawford, Maura Stadem, Bridget Carlson, Jami (Jay) Douglas, Shauna Knutson, Andy Olmstead, Dan Olmstead, Tucker Bronken, Jack Bronken, Derek Bronken, Sara Bronken, Daenon Bronken and Morgan Bronken; her great grandchildren: Kyla, Chance, Sydney, Karena, Lauren, Dana, Tatum and Simone. She is also survived by her siblings: Gerald (Ellen) O'Connor, Grand Forks, ND, Jane Bresnahan, San Diego, CA, Patricia (Patrick) Fisher, Grand Forks, ND and Daniel (Patricia) O'Connor, Sedona, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie B and Margaret O'Connor; brothers: Bud, Jack, Tom, Ted, Dick, James and her sister Ann McLean.