JOAN M RENSTROM

Joan Marie Renstrom of Mora passed away peacefully on December 4, 2023, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale with family by her side. She was 68 years old.  

Joan, often known as Joni to friends and family, was born on April 6th, 1955 in Aberdeen, SD to Richard and Eileen (Hinnenkamp) Urbanski. Richard 's career as a teacher brought the family back to Minnesota with short stays in Swanville, Sauk Centre and Mounds View before settling in New Brighton where Joni grew up. She graduated from Irondale High School in 1973. After school she worked at Land O’Lakes, Pickwick International, and Arrow Industries. 

 In 1978 she met her future husband, Brian Renstrom, at Waldo’s Bar in Minneapolis. They were married on June 23rd, 1979 in Fridley, MN. She and Brian were married for 43 meaningful, wonderful years. Together they had two children who were the light of her life, son Eric and daughter Kari. The family moved to Mora in 1987 and called it home. Once her children were in school, Joni started work as a full time housekeeper at Welia Health (formerly Kanabec Hospital) where she worked for over 20 years before retiring in 2017. She took pride in her work and loved the people she got to work with everyday.   

Joni was a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings, she could be heard screaming at the TV for miles while watching games. She also enjoyed daily word puzzles, shopping at One More Time, trips to the casino, daily walks and visiting the North Shore. Along with her daughter Kari, she was a season ticket holder for the Minnesota United for 9 years and looked forward to weekend trips down to the cities to cheer them on.  

Nothing made Joni happier than being with her family.  While her kids were growing up she enjoyed being a field trip chaperone, t‐ball coach and boy scout den mother. She would support her kids in every endeavor they took on, she was their biggest fan and they both knew it. Being a mother was the best thing to ever happen to Joni, until she became a grandma to Roxy and Ruby. She looked forward to their weekly visits and planned her schedule around theirs. Like her own children, she helped her granddaughters bring out their sense of individuality. At Nana’s house they could truly be themselves. Extended or not, family was family to Joni – she always showed up when needed. She was a good listener and always knew what to say. If you were lucky enough to ever get a hug from her, you knew it was the best hug ever given. She was her family’s rock and will be forever missed.  

She was proceeded in death by parents, Richard and Eileen Urbanski; mother and father‐in‐law Bill and Marlys Renstrom, nephew Troy Renstrom, nephew Joseph Kosloski.  

She is survived by husband Brian; son Eric (Laura) Renstrom, daughter Kari Renstrom; granddaughters Roxanne & Ruby Renstrom; older sister Carol (Ron) Forsblad; younger sisters, Betsy (Jay) Kosloski and Sue (Jesse) Kosloski; brother Tom Urbanski; brothers-in-law; Scott (Cindy) Renstrom and Todd (Anna) Renstrom; nieces and nephews, Dan (Courtney) Kosloski, Tara (Ryan) Theisen, Alan Kosloski, Jolene Kosloski, Travis (Lisa) Renstrom, Brooke (Dean) Parvi, Mitchell Renstrom, Jenna Renstrom; along with numerous other relatives who will miss her dearly. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 15, 2023 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes - Akkerman Chapel in Mora.

A Memorial Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service.

Inurnment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.

A Luncheon will be held at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora following the graveside service.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of JOAN M RENSTROM, please visit our floral store.