JoAnn Thorp Obituary

JoAnn Adelaide Anderson Thorp, 92, passed away on June 27, 2025 surrounded by her family.

JoAnn was born on August 26, 1932 in Twin Valley, MN to Charles Alfred Anderson and Hannah Constance Hanson Anderson. JoAnn attended Twin Valley Elementary School until she was 9 years when her family moved to Crookston. She attended Eugene Field Elementary and Central High School in Crookston. After graduating high school, JoAnn went to college in Duluth for a short period before returning to Crookston to begin her career at Northwestern Bell Telephone. Her career there would span 30 years until her retirement.

On June 26, 1954, JoAnn married Ernest Roy Thorp at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston. JoAnn was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Hat Society, and the Telephone Pioneers. JoAnn was artistic. She painted dresser lamps along with many other things, created craft projects with her mother, counted cross stitch, needlepoint, macrame, as well as gardening.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Roy Thorp; parents, Charles and Hannah Anderson; brothers, Rodney Anderson, Charles "Chuck" Anderson, Bruce Anderson; brothers-in-law, Dave Vick, William "Bill" Thorp, Donald Thorp; mother-in-law, Blanche Drago Thorp; father-in-law, William "Bill" Thorp; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Anderson, Wanda Thorp Anderson, Dorothy Thorp

JoAnn is survived by her children, Ernest Scott Thorp (Nancy) of Richville, MN, Terry Lee Thorp of St. Cloud, Naomi Jo Thorp Pratschner (Richard) of Anoka, MN; sister, Judith Anderson Vick of Lakeville, MN; grandchildren, Megan Thorp Rengo (Ross), Nicholas Thorp, Gretchen (Thorp) Johnson, Miranda Simmons (Andy Lutz), Marissa Simmons, Morgan Simmons, Joseph Pratschner, great-grandchildren, Mason Rengo, Olivia Rengo, Layne Johnson, Carter Johnson, Tyson Lutz, Amari Lutz, and Laylah Lutz

Casket Bearers for the service will be Nicholas Thorp, Layne Johnson, Carter Johnson, Mason Rengo, Joey Pratschner, and Andy Lutz.

Services for JoAnn will be held on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston. Visitation will be held Monday July 7 from 5-7 pm at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Oakdale Cemetery.