Joanna Kay Eblen

A Celebration of Life will be held for Joanna Eblen, age 55, of New York Mills, Minnesota on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11:00 am at Karvonen Funeral Home in Wadena, Minnesota with Pastor Donna Uselman officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Meadows Township, rural Sebeka, Minnesota.

Joanna was born on January 5, 1970 to Floyd, Sr. and Ruby (Borg) Eblen in Little Falls, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Church in Menahga, Minnesota. She attended Menahga and Park Rapids schools, where she joined the Special Olympics team. Joanna was very proud of the Special Olympics. After graduation, she moved to Brainerd, Minnesota where she spent many years working at Grand Casino Mille Lacs bussing tables.

Joanna enjoyed traveling, camping, shopping, taking pictures, playing games, working with her beads and crafting things, and eating out with family and friends. She especially loved Hardee’s bacon cheeseburger and crispy curls. Joanna loved her candy. Her favorite was M&Ms. When asked what kinds she wanted, she would say, “Any! I love them all!”

Joanna passed away peacefully at Vitality Living in New York Mills, Minnesota on January 22, 2025 with her family by her side and the gentle care of Moments Hospice at 55 years of age.  She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Joanna is preceded in death by her father Floyd Eblen, Sr. and her grandparents.

Joanna will be dearly missed by her mother Ruby Bautch of New York Mills; brother Floyd, Jr. (Brenda) Eblen of New York Mills; sister Donna (Dave) Eveleth of Eustis, Florida; many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

The family wishes to extend a gracious thank you to Jessica Norling, along with her staff and close friends, for looking after Joanna while she lived in Brainerd.

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