Joanne Geffre

Joanne K. Geffre, 89, of Leola, SD, passed away Friday, September 26, 2025, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Leola, SD, with Father Michael Griffin as celebrant.

Burial will follow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Cemetery, Leola.

Following the burial, time for fellowship and a luncheon will be at the church center.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, with a 7:00 p.m. liturgical wake and rosary service. Visitation continues one hour before the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Watertown Breast Cancer Support Group at 25 3rd Ave SE, Watertown, SD, 57201, or Avera @ Home Hospice.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Joanne K. Kornmann was born December 18, 1935, to Edward W. and Gladys C. (Flanagan) Kornmann in Castlewood, South Dakota. In 1942, the family moved to Lead, South Dakota. There, she attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Grade School and Lead High School, where she graduated in 1954. After graduation, she worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for two and a half years.

On October 15, 1956, she married Norbert Geffre, who owned and operated the Apex Bowling in Lead, SD, and farmed in Leola, SD. They moved back to the farm in 1958, where they raised eight children. They were married for 62 years.

During her lifetime, Joanne’s family was the center of her life. She enjoyed being a mother and attending her children’s activities. She also had a passion for decorating cakes and decorating the house for Christmas. During her free time, she enjoyed embroidery, crocheting, and playing cards. Another one of her fond memories was working at the D & M Café, where she loved to cook. She looked forward to family gatherings where she specialized in making cheeseburgers, scalloped potatoes and ham, or noodles and melon. At Christmas time, she truly enjoyed baking her sugar cookies.

She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Altar Society, and taught CCD classes.

Her survivors include seven of her children: Kathy Geffre of Watertown, SD, Susie Faehn of Watertown, SD, John Geffre of Lisbon, ME, Tom Geffre of Denver, CO, Patty Geffre of Denver, CO, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry (Rebecca) Geffre of Norman, OK, and Jerry (Vicki) Geffre of Leola, SD; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and one brother, James Kornmann of Elmira, OR.

Joanne is preceded in death by her husband, Norbert Geffre; one son, Mark Geffre; her parents, Ed and Gladys Kornmann; one brother and sister-in-law, Bud and Margie Kornmann; and one son-in-law, Bob Faehn.