Joanne Avgenackis Wiemers

Joanne Avgenackis Wiemers, 71, of Mankato, MN, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Health System, Rochester, MN, with her loving family at her side. She battled breast cancer for more than 40 years.

Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1123 Marsh Street, Mankato, MN.  Visitation will be from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, as well as one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Woodland Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. Northview – North Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joanne was born on October 17, 1951, in Sioux City, IA, the daughter of Nicholas and Eleni Avgenackis. Joanne married Dr. Carlin Wiemers on May 27, 1990, in Sioux City, IA. They have two children, Natalia and Nicholas (Niko). 

Joanne’s family spoke Greek at home. She lived in a neighborhood of Greek immigrants, and she was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. After her marriage, she became an active member of the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, MN. Joanne had a positive impact on everyone she met and was always eager to help friends and family.

Joanne graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  She later completed a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities also from Iowa State University. She taught at Clark School in Sioux City, IA until her marriage in 1990. Her former students still reach out to their favorite teacher “Miss A.” None of her students could pronounce Avgenackis.

Joanne made sure she continued her children’s education at home. She was a devoted soccer, baseball, and dance mom. She loved planning family adventures. Her “happy place” was her home in Estero FL. This September, she was able to travel with Carlin in “Addie” (their new recreational vehicle) to Winkler, Canada. They had hoped to see more of the United States.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Carlin; daughter, Natalia (Nicholas) Rockstad of Minnetonka, MN; and son, Niko of Rochester, MN.  She is also survived by her brother, Michael (Nancy) Avgenackis of Knoxville, TN; sister-in-law, DeEtta (Rod) Clark of Apple Valley, MN as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family members in Crete, Greece.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family requests memorials be sent to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, or the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Sioux City, IA.