Joan Maree Ondercin

Joan Johnson Ondercin was born on March 18, 1942, in Endeavor, WI and raised in Oxford, WI. She passed away on August 16, 2025, in Brooklyn Park, MN. She grew up riding horses with her sister having adventures around small-town Wisconsin. Joan previously taught in the Milwaukee and St. Paul School Systems. She married David G. Ondercin in 1964. Joan was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and the University of Minnesota. She served as an Associate Professor of Business at the University of Northwestern in Roseville, MN for 35 years.

She loved her family, her students and helping people. She was a baker and gardener, and no project was ever too small. She loved baking for her children and grandchildren and filled their freezers with love. Joan helped thousands of students with resumes, internships and career advice. She met and informally interviewed people everywhere she went and was always looking for ways to help anyone she could. Sharing the love of Jesus was important to her and she could often be found telling workmen that visited the house or random people she met about Jesus’ love.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edway Cecil Johnson, and her mother, Maree Houslet Johnson.

She is survived by her husband, David, her daughter Karen M. Kellogg (Ken), Wildwood, MO, sons John D. Ondercin (Kristin), Chaska, MN, and David J. Ondercin (Gina), Knoxville, TN, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, sister Karen Johnson Hoffmann, West Lafayette, IN and niece Leah Hoffmann, Piermont, NY.

Funeral services: Private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse or English Language Institute/China (elic.org).

Former students: We invite you to post stories and memories of Joan here for all to share: Billmanhunt.com

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