Joanne C. Bennerotte - Concord Township

Joanne C. Bennerotte, 67, of Concord Township, died with her family by her side,, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at her home, after a courageous four-year fight against cancer.

Joanne was born March 12, 1945, in Rochester, the daughter of Carlyle and Viola (Mensing) Gossard. She was raised and attended school in West Concord, graduating from West Concord High School in 1963. She then worked for 3M in St. Paul as a secretary. She was united in marriage to Charles Bennerotte on Oct. 7, 1967, in Dodge Center. She worked for a short time for Prudential in Rochester.

Joanne and Charles operated a dairy farm in Concord Township until 1997. In 1991, she worked for Whiting’s Nursery in Rochester as a floral designer and crafting bows and wreaths. She also co-owned Riverside Gifts in Mantorville. Charlie died on Jan. 1, 2000.

Joanne was a very active member at Zwingli United Church of Christ, the Berne Cemetery Association, Mantorville Chamber of Commerce and Mantorville Restoration Association. Joanne was also a 4-H leader for 30 years and a member of the American Dairy Association. 

She is survived by her daughters, Julie Bennerotte of Rochester, Carmen (and Michael) Goeden of Port Washington, Wis., and Lisa Bennerotte of Inver Grove Heights; two grandchildren, Elenora and Brody Goeden; sister, Marian (and Quentin) Kleinwort of Dodge Center; brother, Gaylord (and Penne) Gossard of Dodge Center; brothers-in-law, Brian Bennerotte of Eagan, Stuart (and Sara) Bennerotte of Minneapolis, Wesley (and Cheryl) Bennerotte of Woodbury; and sisters-in-law, Sue Bennerotte of Maryville, Mo., and Myrna (and Steve) Rasmussen of Dundas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Bennerotte; her parents; her parents-in-law; and brother-in-law, Gary Bennerotte. 

Visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in West Concord Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at Michaelson Funeral Home, Owatonna, Friday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.. 

Funeral services and Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. at Michaelson Funeral Home, 1930 Austin Rd., Owatonna, with Reverend George Coy officiating. Interment will be in the Berne Cemetery in Concord Township. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Berne Cemetery Association, Zwingli United Church of Christ, Dodge County Relay for Life or donor’s choice.

Michaelson Funeral Home , 319 Main St., West Concord, MN 55985. 507-451-7943