Joanne June (Engel) Sayler left us to be with her heavenly father on July 7, 2024.  She slipped away peacefully in her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren after a brief bout with cancer.  A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at Augustana Lutheran Church, Underwood with Pastor Sondra Krogstad officiating.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Hulda (Metz) Engel, her, father John, brother, Ronald and Faith Engel (Colorado) and sister Geraldine (Engel) and Leo Ferderer.

She is survived by her sister, Leanne (Engel) and Ronald Haugen, her children, Tamra Clark (Underwood, ND); Brad and Michelle Sayler (Underwood, ND,); Brent and Dawnette Sayler (Big Lake, MN); and Toni and Steve Cottingham (Underwood, ND) her seven grandchildren - Ashlie (Sayler) and Jesse Walcker; Chelsie (Sayler) and Lee Kistler; Tyler and Terrell Clark; Shelbey (Clark) and Justin Landenberger; Samantha (Cottingham) and Nick Slavik; Madisann (Sayler) and Jared Bradford; and Zachary Cottingham, her twelve great-grandchildren: Crosby and Logan Walcker; Jaelynn, Kinslee and Saphira Kistler; Shawn and Truman Clark; Eden Landenberger; Colter and Hattie Slavik; and Melody and Finnin Bradford.

Joanne was born in Garrison, ND on June 27, 1939 - the 3rd of 4 children born to John and Hulda Engel.  She attended elementary and high school in Garrison - graduating from Garrison High School in 1957.

After graduation, Joanne married James G. Sayler on August 3, 1958. She worked at the FSA Office in Garrison until the young couple moved to Minot. Joanne & Jim would live in a variety of locations before settling down on "Sayler" corner four miles east of Underwood where they made their life and raised their children. Joanne & Jim would divorce in 1988 but could always be counted on to put differences aside when it came to family gatherings and holidays.  In her later years they reconnected over common history and remained good friends until her passing day.

Among other jobs, Joanne worked at Falkirk Mine for over 20 years, taking much pride in her position as the maintenance supervisor. She retired in 2003 and devoted her time and love to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She adored cuddling the little ones and would often be heard singing or humming to them. There wasn't a trip to grandma's house without ice cream, a cookie or piece of candy.

Joanne loved the outdoors, especially working with her flowers in her backyard. She was constantly fidgeting with them and making sure no weed was unpicked. She enjoyed sitting on her back deck visiting and listening to the sounds of her neighborhood - birds chirping, children playing or the hum of a neighbor mowing.

Joanne never shied away from work and found great joy in a job well done in all that she did, be that from her days in the workforce, from keeping up her home and yard, from cooking for her family and friends (good old German recipes were her favorites), or from decorating for holidays.  She could always be counted on to put her best foot forward.  And not only would the effort be there, but she would look good doing it - her clothes and hair had to be done right and that's all there was to it. Any attempt to rush this process was simply pure foolishness.

One of Joanne's favorite hobbies was worrying.  She was a master at it.  We tried to remind ourselves that it came from a place of love - that she fretted and stewed and offered endless unsolicited advice because she truly wanted what was best for her family, neighbors, town, state, country, world … There was a lot for her to keep tabs on.

Among her other loves through the years were camping with family and friends, vacationing with her brother and sister in Arizona (never being gone too long of course), cooking with a grandchild on her hip (making sure to slip them some knoephla or sauerkraut), and just plain loving life.

As those that knew her find peace in knowing that her earthly struggles are over, we will all miss her witty sense of humor, her quick smile, the twinkle in her eyes and her sense of adventure.