Joanne Pauline (Kalstabakken) Finley

Joanne Pauline (Kalstabakken) Finley of rural Chatfield passed away June 28th, 2020 at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

Born July 4, 1934 to Oscar and Frieda (Lundt) Kalstabakken of rural Chatfield. She was baptized & confirmed at St Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield.

Joanne and Jerry V Finley were married in that same church on September 9, 1950. They were the 2nd couple married in the new church at that time.

Joanne attended two country schools, then Fountain school and then later Preston High School. She stilled enjoyed meeting with classmates for lunch in Fountain.

Joanne was a homemaker and bookkeeper for her husband’s construction company Quality Homes & Remodeling for 25 years.

Joanne belonged to the Chatfield Methodist Church. Before her health problems, she was a very active member of the women’s UMW, which she enjoyed very much. She was member of the Rochester Collectors Club. She enjoyed her collections and has shared them with her family and friends.  She has given many away so they could enjoy them as she did.  Joanne was a crafter and sewed many things over the years for family & friends. Christmas was her favorite time of the year.  She made and had gifts for everyone. She loved to decorate her home inside and out. Her health in recent years had taken a toll on her, but she still managed to decorate at a smaller scale.

Jerry & Joanne had built a cabin together in Colorado in 2003, which they loved and made over 60 trips there before selling to a grandson, who welcomed them back to visit anytime.  Oh, how she loved the cabin, mountains and her home and family.

She was very proud of the fact they lived 63 years on the farm in that little valley west of Chatfield.

She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Jerry V Finley. Three sons, Jerry Jo of Stewartville MN, Jim of New Castle WY and Jan (Mona) of Chatfield.  Her very much-loved Grandchildren; Valerie (Tom) Erickson, Jessie (Katie) Finley, Laura (Chad) Opicka, Lisa Finley, Krista Finley, Paul Finley, Megan Finley, Dusty (Amanda) Finley, Vanessa (Dustin) Bren, Andrew Finley.  Plus 19 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.  Her sisters; Marion (George) Kirchner, Rhonda (Lyle) Greenlee and Helen (Carlos) Pierce and brother Myron (Luella) Kalstabakken.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Frieda Kalstabakken, sister LaVonne Burk, brothers Adrian Kalstabakken and Gerald Kalstabakken.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at Orion Township Town Hall, in rural Chatfield, with visitation 5-7 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020, at Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield, and one hour prior to services on Tuesday.  Burial will be in the Chatfield Cemetery.

To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit rileyfuneralhomes.com.