Joan Elizabeth Pflueger, 82, Collegeville

September 28, 1932 - February 3, 2015

Joan Elizabeth Pflueger, age 82, of Collegeville passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the Legends of Heritage Place in Sartell due to complications of dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Joan’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015 at St. John the Baptist Abbey Church in Collegeville. Reverend Gregory Miller, OSB will officiate. Burial will take place in the Parish Cemetery.

Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday (TODAY) at the St. John the Baptist Parish Center in Collegeville and after 9:00 a.m. on Friday at the Abbey Church. Parish prayers will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Parish Center in Collegeville.

Joan was born on September 28, 1932 in Avon, Minnesota to the late Frank A. and Julia (Achman) Himsl. She was the 9th of 10 children. She married John M. Pflueger on September 27, 1951 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon.

Joan was the loving mother of six children as well as a source of motherly comfort for many neighborhood children. She was employed by Trobec Bus Services from 1974 to 2003 as a driver. Joan had many hobbies including: gardening, quilting, baking, cooking, fishing, hunting, bird watching and craft making. She was a devoted and longtime member of St. John the Baptist Parish where she helped organize and facilitate many events. Most notably Joan was a quiet loving force that enriched the lives of many with her kind deeds.

Joan is survived by her children, Gary (Toni) of St. Joseph, Julie Pflueger of The Woodlands, TX, Vickie (Tom) Wicks of St. Joseph, Penny (Randy) Mertes of Cave Springs, AR, Chris of St. Joseph, and Wendy (Christopher) Valley of San Mateo CA; 12 grandchildren, Ben, Sara, Becky, Matthew, Nicolas, Jessica, Leia, Luke, Jared, Evan, Erin, and Ellen; seven great grandchildren; brothers, Al and Minolph Himsl; sister, June Lichy; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2012; brothers, Eldred, Amor, Gerald and Mel Himsl; and sisters, Mildred Mock and Marie Poppen.

A special thank you to the staffs of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home Memory Cottages and the Legends of Heritage for their professional and loving care.

Memorials are preferred.