Joan C. (Fabel) Schnackenberg

Joan Schnackenberg, age 79 of Brooten, died peacefully Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at home under the care of her family and hospice. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, May 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten with Pastor Steven Bovendam officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in the Grove Lake Cemetery in Grove Lake. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Brooten. 

Joan Carol Fabel was born to Emil and Myrtle (Lea) Fabel on May 17, 1942 in Detroit Township, Minnesota. She grew up along with her two brothers and one sister in the Sedan and Brooten area. Joan attended school in Sedan and later earned her GED. She and her family were members at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Brooten.

On December 1, 1961 Joan was united in marriage to Lorne G. Schnackenberg at Our Savior’s Lutheran Parsonage in Brooten. The couple first made their home in Windom, then Glenwood and Sedan before settling on a farm near Brooten. Joan was employed at the Cannonball Kitchen and J & B Restaurant (later known as the Franklin Street Diner) both in Glenwood, Diecast Specialties in Starbuck, and Donnelly Plastics in Alexandria. Along with working, Joan helped Lorne with all the farming operations from caring for the livestock to harvesting crops. She retired in 2006 when Lorne’s health declined and she was needed at home.  

Joan was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she participated in ladies circle. She enjoyed riding horses when she was younger, taking care of the farm and all their animals, especially the cats and dogs, reading romance novels, and doing puzzle books. She will be remembered for her love of family and those who were like family to her, her amazing cooking skills, and her spunk.

Joan died Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at home under the care of her family and hospice.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Sandy Schnackenberg and her son, Michael Schnackenberg, both of Brooten; her grandchildren: Nicole (James) Smith, Dennis (Tanya) Martin, Shane (Laura) Martin, and Dustin (Cheryl) Schnackenberg; her great-grandchildren, Tyler, Lily, Kasey, Amy, Justice, Kalee, Kyley, Hailey, Kaidyn and Wesley; her sister: Jean (Richard) Norby of Inver Grove Heights; her brother, Bob Fabel of Sheridan, AR; and so many other close family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lorne Schnackenberg in 2007; her brother, Martin “Sonny” Erickson; and her sister-in-law, Janet Fabel.

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