Joanne M. VanWyck, 76, died Sunday morning, Nov. 25, 2012, at the Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie, Minn.

Joanne was born Aug. 8, 1936, in Austin, Minn., the daughter of Harold and Marie (Schreier) Morrison. She graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1954 and from St. Catherine’s University in 1958 with a Nursing degree. In Feb. 1962, Joanne was sworn in by President John F. Kennedy as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Nursing Corp. She was one of 12 nurses from Minnesota trained as a disaster nurse. While in the military, Joanne was united in marriage to William VanWyck in September 1965 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Due to her pregnancy, Joanne was discharged from the Army in 1966, after attaining the rank of captain. She then made her home in Fresno, Calif., where she worked as an ObGyn nurse at St. Agnes Medical Center. During her career she had the pleasure of welcoming several hundred babies into the world. After early retirement Joanne moved to Blooming Prairie to help her mother and family in 1993. Joanne enjoyed reading, playing cards, and watching sports and CSPAN. She entered the Prairie Manor Care Center in June 2012.

Survivors include her son, Joseph (Patty) VanWyck of Clayton, N.C.; a sister, Margaret (Bill) Noble of Blooming Prairie; two brothers, Donald (Marianne) Morrison of Winona and John (Edee) Morrison of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, William.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie with Father Steven Peterson and Father Paul Breza co-celebrants. Interment will follow the service in St. Columbanus Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors by VFW Post 878 and American Legion Post 52. Visitation will be held at the Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29 and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. A Ladies Rosary will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are preferred to the Blooming Prairie Education Foundation or the Serviceman’s Club of Blooming Prairie. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.