Joanne C. (Hitchcock) Carlson, 84, of North Branch, Minn., and formerly of Hibbing, died Dec. 31, 2017, at Mission Palms Care Center in Phoenix, Ariz. A Memorial Gathering will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Hibbing Park Hotel in the Arrowhead Room, with inurnment to follow at 1:30 p.m.at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood, Minn.

Joanne Larkin Corey was born to Clark and Verone (Larkin) Corey on January 16, 1933 in Hibbing, MN. She attended grade school in Hibbing, followed by high school in Biwabik, MN where she was the Homecoming Queen in her senior year. After high school Joanne attended college at Mercy School of Nursing in Charlotte, NC graduating there with an RN degree in 1955. While in college, Joanne kept a long distance relationship going with James Hitchcock whom she had met back in MN.  The couple was eventually married in Sarasota, Fla on Aug, 27, 1955 and made their home in Hibbing. The couple was blessed with four children.

In the late 80’s Joanne moved to the St. Paul and continued her nursing career at Summit Manor Nursing Home in St. Paul until her retirement in 1996. While living in St. Paul she met her new dancing partner Lloyd Carlson. Eventually she and Lloyd got married on June 5, 1995 in St. Paul. She and Lloyd lived in St. Paul before moving to North Branch, MN to settle into a quieter and slower paced community. Lloyd and Joanne eventually became snowbirds and wintered in Apache Junction, AZ from November to May each year.

Joanne loved music, dancing and a parade. She would stay on the dance floor all night as long as she had a partner to twirl her around the floor. Even her kids had to take a turn when her regular partner needed a rest. Aside from dancing, she was an avid knitter, making beautiful Irish blankets for those she loved. She also enjoyed being at the cabin on Big Sturgeon Lake, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the 4th of July, telling wildly funny jokes, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends.

She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her Irish heritage she was so proud of, and a great sense of humor.  She eagerly awaited blue berry picking season, always including all of us kids to go with her.  She told us, “if you don’t pick, you don’t eat her treats made with the blueberries”.  Those treats include blueberry pancakes, muffins, and “the best blueberry pie on earth”.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Lloyd Carlson, North Branch, MN; her children, Kelly (Mary Jo) Hitchcock,  Minneapolis, MN; Frances Tanner, Rush City, MN; John (Rachel) Hitchcock, Rochester, Ill; and Paul (Nancy) Hitchcock, Glenwood, MN; brother, Clark Fisk Corey III, Side Lake, MN; grandchildren, Ryan, Katherine and Megan Tanner, Cameron Davis, and Grant and Jordan Hitchcock; step-grandchildren, Bridger, Solei, Minne, Anne, Audrey, and Chet Carlson; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, James Hitchcock; and sister, Bridget Kinkle.  

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