JoAnn Kathryn Schmidt, age 66, of Wells, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at her home in Wells, surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Chapel in Wells. Chaplain Vic Vriesen will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one-hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells.

JoAnn was born on Oct. 5, 1940, in Pocahontas, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Shank) Krueger. She married Lester L. Schmidt on Dec. 24, 1959, in Wells. The family has lived in the Waldorf, Mapleton and most recently Wells area. She enjoyed farming and being a homemaker. She enjoyed crafts, plants, cooking and baking.

JoAnn is survived by her husband:

Lester Schmidt of Wells; daughter Cindy and husband LaMar Brandenburg of Wells; two granddaughters Jennifer Raimann of Wells and Jessica Raimann of Freeborn; five great-grandchildren; her mother Mary Krueger of Blue Earth; two sisters: Judy Langer of Loveland, Colo. and Donna and husband Darwin Evenson of Pinconning, Mich.; two brothers-in-law: Gordon Schmidt and special friend Jeanine of Hackensack and Norman and wife Joanne Schmidt of Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, brother-in-law Eugene and sister-in-law Darlene.