Obituary of JoAnn Oswell

JoAnn G. (Johnson) Oswell, 73 of Carlton died peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2021, surrounded by her family.  She was born February 28, 1948 in Cloquet to Carl Elon Johnson and Fern B. (Mullen) Johnson.

JoAnn grew up in Cloquet and graduated from Cloquet High School in 1966. She married the love of her life, Curt Oswell on May 20, 1967. They resided in San Diego, CA and Newport News, VA before settling in Carlton, MN in 1972. Curt and JoAnn lovingly made the same house a home for her family, friends, and neighbors for nearly 48 years.  She is remembered fondly for having an open door to all of the kids in the neighborhood, and she loved feeding every one of them.  Having a house (and yard) full of family, friends, and neighbors delighted her. She also loved camping, crafting, baking cakes and homemade breads and candies, agate picking, and playing cards with her friends. She took great pleasure in care taking for others and in seeing her family be happy and feel loved and supported.  Nothing was more important to her than her family and she was proud to have remained so close to her many cousins as they grew from childhood to adulthood and into their senior years, referring to her Wednesday night dinner crew as her “gang” that she was a part of her whole life.

Once JoAnn’s daughters were grown-up, JoAnn went back to school and obtained her Associates Degree, graduating from Fond du Lac Tribal Community College in 1991. In her time there she took great pride in the work she did advocating for Minnesota Community Colleges as a Student Leader and Executive Officer representing the interests of the Minnesota Community College Student Association.  As a non-traditional student, JoAnn became “mom” to many of the students who belonged to the organization.  She was always the “cool mom” even though she wasn’t even trying. 

JoAnn’s greatest pride in life besides her husband and daughters is the love she has for her grandsons; Cade, Blake, and Dane.  Once she became a grandma, “Jo” became “Josie” to her boys.  She lovingly helped raise them and nothing made her happier than seeing them grow up and become strong, smart, kind, and caring young men. She beamed in their presence and they will forever have healthy self-esteem since they are “perfect children”.

 JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; her son-in-law, Curt Singpiel; sister and brother-in law, Charlotte and Arthur Johnson. 

She is survived by her husband, Curt; her two daughters, Leigh (Todd Crandall) Singpiel  and Laurie (Adam) Graupe; her 3 grandsons, Cade, Blake, and Dane Singpiel; brothers, Jim (Pauline) Johnson and Jerry (Carolyn) Johnson; her Uncle Dale Mullen and Aunt Madonna Morrisette; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Visitation: 11:00 a.m. until the luncheon at 12:00 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 in Atkins Northland Funeral Home 801 14^th St., Cloquet, MN  55720.  To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com