Joan Bernice (Bridgeman) Fossey, 85, died on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center.

Joan Bernice (Bridgeman) Fossey, daughter of the late Victor and Blanche (Rud) Bridgeman, was born on Nov. 12, 1933. She attended school at Ramsey County School, Lincoln Grade School and Austin High School in Austin, Minnesota. Joan worked at the Wagon Wheel restaurant and Kinsman Flower Shop near Austin. She was a homemaker and school cook at St. Ansgar schools. She worked at the Good Samaritan Center as the activity assistant. She then worked at the Heritage Museum in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

On Jan. 2, 1956, Joan was united in marriage to Leo Fossey in Northwood, Iowa. The couple resided in Lyle, Minnesota, and became members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.  To this union, five children were born. In 1962, they moved to the family farm south of Lyle. In January 2018, Joan became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.

Joan treasured her time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking for her family. Her grandchildren attest that she made the best monster cookies, second to none. Joan will be remembered for her outgoing nature, talking with everyone and excluding no one. She was a special friend to everyone she met.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, in 1993; her son, Neal, in 2003; her parents, Victor and Blanche Bridgeman; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mense and Amy Fossey; her brother, Virgil, and his wife, Barb Bridgeman; sister-in-law, Margaret Meyer; brothers-in-law, Allen Fossey and Ken Hays; and her great-grandson, Barrett Fossey.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Gary (Barb) Fossey, St. Ansgar, Lori (Dene Hauswirth) Hatten, Lakefield, Minnesota, Lana (Jim) Blaser, Stacyville, Iowa, and Joel (Connie) Fossey, St. Ansgar; daughter-in-law, Cindy (Russ) Flugge, Carpenter, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce Hays, Austin; brothers, John (Bev) Bridgeman, Austin, and Cleabert (Karen) Bridgeman, Austin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle with Pastor Scott Meyer officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Mona, Iowa, following the service. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019, at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar. Condolences can be left online at www.schroederandistes.com.