Joan Prigge

Joan Mildred (Plank) Prigge, 84, of Rochester, Minn. passed away on Friday, September 16, 2016 after a battle with Alzheimers Disease. Joan was born in Winona, Minn. on November 15, 1931 to Ralph and Mildred (Todd) Plank and grew up in Eyota, Minn. She married Robert Gardner and later divorced. On March 29, 1961, she married Lorenz (Larry) Prigge, a United States Navyman, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Joan was a homemaker and a lifelong member of Christ United Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry, who passed away in 2003; a sister, Shirley Schneider; and cousin, Bob Brown. She is survived by her children, Margaret Axford of Rochester, Lois Huey of Rochester, Tarry (Ashley) Samsel of Bean Station, Tenn. and Joseph Prigge of Dundas, Minn.; as well as eight grandchildren, Kelly Axford, Michelle Mann, Bill (Katrina) Axford, John (Lyrene) Huey, Andrea (Matt) Fletcher, Isaak (Kayla) Samsel, Jakob Samsel and Elijah Samsel; and nine great-grandchildren, Jazmine, Isabel, Lily, Olivia, Spencer, Colton, Aryia, Piper and Logan; as well as two brothers, Dean Plank of Wabasha, Minn. and James Plank of Harmony, Minn. Additionally, Joans family will always cherish and remember the love she had in her heart for her dogs. A memorial service will be held 2:00PM Sunday, October 2, 2016 at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 5th Avenue SW, Rochester. The Reverend Nancy Wheeler Handlon will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00PM until the time of the service. Please use the East parking lot and the small chapel entrance. The family would like to say a special thank you to the wonderful and caring staff of Golden Living East, where Joan spent her final years. Per her wishes, Joans body was donated to the Mayo Clinic Department of Health Sciences Research. In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for a stranger to honor Joans memory. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com