Joan Oak, age 79 of Le Center, died Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 7 from 3pm to 7pm at the Le Center Funeral Home in Le Center. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church in St. Thomas on Monday, November 8 at 10am with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be held in the St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery.

Joan was the youngest of 12 and was born on May 31, 1942 in St. Peter to Lawrence and Rose (Chounard) Leonard. She grew up on a farm in rural St. Peter and graduated from St. Peter High School in 1960. Joan worked at Prudential Insurance in Minneapolis, was a homemaker and also as a cook at the Le Center American Legion. Joan was united in marriage to James Martin Oak on September 21, 1963 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Middle Lake. They started farming in 1972 in rural St. Peter and moved to St. Thomas in 1975 where they grew Oak Farms. She belonged to St. Thomas Catholic Church CCW and enjoyed baking, shopping, painting wood crafts, and belonged to a crocheting group. Joan especially enjoyed doing anything and everything with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her husband, Jim Oak of Le Center; children, Andy (Barb) Oak, Tom (Sheila) Oak, and Jenny (Dave) Cink; grandchildren, Holly (Brad) Schmitz, James (Christine) Oak, Connor, Keegan, and Keeley Oak, Katie, Steph, and Jonathan Cink; great-grandchildren, Drew and Candice Schmitz, Claire, Bennet, and Sophie Oak, sisters; brothers; nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents; infant son; sisters, Delores, Betty, and Margaret; multiple brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-laws.

Arrangements are with the Le Center Funeral Home in Le Center. 507-357-6116. On-line condolences may be left at www.lecenterfuneralhome.com