JoAnn Kotval, age 82 of Redwood Falls, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 at United Methodist Church in Morgan. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
JoAnn Esther Kotval was born December 12, 1941 on the home farm in Sherman Township, Redwood County, Minnesota. She was born to Roland D. and Esther E. (Zempel) Meierding. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Morgan, and attended country school District 16, Morgan and Franklin public schools. JoAnn was married to Arvin Eichstadt and later Edward Dagner. JoAnn was employed at the Minnesota Café in Marshall, then Nelson/Schjaastad Hardware in Redwood Falls, then Gibson’s/Pamida store in Redwood Falls until her marriage to Kenneth A. Kotval on July 10, 1981. She was a member of the Morgan United Methodist Church. She always liked outdoor yard and lawn work more than housework. She waged war on dandelions everywhere on the farm by digging them out and spraying 2,4-D down the holes to kill the roots. JoAnn enjoyed mowing lawn, and stayed busy planting perennials and annuals around the house foundation and in pots. After her husband Ken passed away, she volunteered her time taking care of flowers and lawns at Gilfillan, until her stroke at age 81. She especially enjoyed animals and pets, and preferred cats and kittens over the years – Kiki was her favorite cat. JoAnn collected cat, bird (especially cardinal, owl, and chicken) figurines, Native American dolls, Barbie Christmas ornaments, Coca Cola items, cookbooks, Linda Lael Miller books, and farm toys. She loved jewelry and rings. JoAnn recycled everything possible.
JoAnn is survived by her son: Don Dagner of Redwood Falls; step daughter: Marlys (Curt) Carpenter of Marshall, MN; daughters-in-law: Elena Dagner of Heyworth, IL and Sheila Dagner of Dassel, MN; grandchildren: Nicholas Dagner of Dassel, James Dagner of Dassel, and Karina Dagner of Heyworth, IL; step grandchildren: Sarah Moen of Dassel and Christopher Carpenter of Marshall, MN; and step great-grandchildren: identical twins Isabelle and Gabrielle Densmore. She is preceded in death by her parents Roland and Esther Meierding, parents-in-law Louis and Pearl (Truay) Kotval, husband Kenneth, children Stacy Sue Dagner, William “Bill” Ross Dagner and Bruce Dagner, step children Bruce Kotval and Tammy Rozell, and brother David Victor Meierding.
