Joan Marilyn Milbrand Bullert

Obituary

Joan Marilyn (Genung) Milbrand Bullert was born on December 2, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Joel and Bernice (Berg) Genung.  Joan was baptized and confirmed in May of 1954, by Pastor Karl J. Plocher at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Helen Township, Glencoe, Minnesota.  She attended grade school in Minneapolis and Louisiana, where her father was stationed.  Joan graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis in 1949, after attending school in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.  In 1950, she entered nursing school at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.  While there, she met Harvey Milbrand and when they decided to get married, the nursing career ended.

On July 19, 1952, Joan was united in marriage to Harvey Milbrand by Chaplain John Allman at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma.  Harvey spent a year serving in Korea and in January of 1954, they moved to Glencoe where Harvey farmed with his father and brother.  In 1960, Joan and Harvey purchased a farm in McLeod County.  Their marriage was blessed with two children, Nancy and David.  Joan and Harvey shared over 24 years of marriage until Harvey was diagnosed with cancer in 1976 and passed away on April 27, 1977.  After Harvey’s death, Joan attended HAVTI (Ridgewater College) in Hutchinson where she earned a medical secretary degree.  In 1979, Joan met Ernie Bullert and they were united in marriage on September 2, 1979, by Pastor Thomas Kutz at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Helen Township, Glencoe, Minnesota.  They lived on Ernie’s farm until 1983, when they moved into Glencoe.  Joan and Ernie shared over 29 years of marriage until Ernie passed away on February 14, 2008.  

In addition to being a loving wife, mother and homemaker, Joan helped Harvey and Ernie on their farms.  She also worked for ten years at Glencoe Regional Health Services as a medical secretary.  She was a member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota.

Joan enjoyed traveling, putting many miles on the car.  Her favorite trip was in 1995, when they went to Alaska and in 1997, Joan traveled to England to visit her brother.  A highlight of that trip was a train trip to Paris through the “chunnel”.  Joan was a self-taught woman who loved ceramics, crafts, cross stitch, needlework and bible studies.  She treasured the time spent with her family and friends. 

Joan passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Glencoe Regional Health Services Long Term Care in Glencoe, Minnesota, at the age of 85 years and 5 months.  Blessed be her memory.

Joan is survived by her:
Son, David “Ducky” Milbrand and his wife, Chris, of Glencoe, MN;
Brothers, Joel Genung and his wife, Annie, of Bixby, OK,
Ronald Genung of Tucson, AZ;
Step Children, Bernie Bullert of Cottage Grove, MN,
Bruce Bullert and his wife, Pat, of Ft. Myers, FL,
Brenda Lenz and her husband, Joe, of Buffalo, MN;
Step Grandchildren and Step Great Grandchildren;
Nieces, Nephews, Other relatives and friends.

Joan is preceded in death by her Parents, Joel and Bernice Genung; 1^st Husband, Harvey Milbrand; 2^nd Husband, Ernie Bullert; Daughter, Nancy Milbrand.