Joan Adeline (Huebner) Aulich

Joan Adeline (Huebner) Aulich was born in South St. Paul, MN to Alfred and Olga Huebner on July 28,1931. She graduated from South St. Paul High School, and then attended the University of Minnesota where she received her certification in Dental Hygiene.

She met her future spouse Richard (Dick) Aulich in kindergarten. After school Joan went to New York to work in the big town and Dick signed up for the Marine Corps. They both came back to SSP. One day Dick was waiting for the light to change at Concord and Grand and Joan walked across his field of view. He got her attention and the two exchanged pleasantries. The next evening Joan drove to Dick’s grandmother’s house where he was staying, got out of her car, and pretended to be lost. Completely fooled, Dick came out to help, and they married a few months later on May 21, 1955. They were very happy together; one might say this was “a match made in heaven.”  They were married for almost 69 years. Joan passed away early on May 11, at May Creek Cottages in Walker MN. Dick was holding her hand. And the Northern Lights danced.

Joan had strong faith in God that greatly impacted her life and that of her family. She enjoyed being a dental hygienist and made lots of friends and repeat customers through her competence and engaging personality, while deftly wielding sharp instruments near tender tissues.  Her cooking was always a big draw with Dick, her children and grandchildren, and other fortunate eaters. She had an artistic bent and enjoyed sketching portraits and flowers. As a volunteer, she read to the blind and taught English to new Americans, which led to a lifelong friendship with the Mlikota family from Croatia. Joan was a gifted musician, playing both the piano and organ. She “kept busy with the ivories,” as she said, starting as a church organist at the age of 14. She played the organ wherever she and Dick lived in Minnesota and North Dakota for the next 70 years.

Survivors include spouse Dick, children Beth (Rob) Larson of Brainerd MN and Ted (Laurel) Aulich of Grand Forks ND, son-in-law Ray Pikarski, grandchildren (Adam, Aaron, Laura, Joanna, John, and Brendan), great grandchildren (Brynn, Elsie, Vaida, and Aubrey), sister Lois Ninnemann, brother David (Corrine) Huebner, and many nieces and nephews.

Greeting Joan in heaven are her parents, daughters, Amy who passed away at age 59 and Ann who died at 19 months, and sister Diane. A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in Walker MN on May 30, at 2pm, with visitation at 1pm. Heartfelt thanks to May Creek Edgewood Vista, Hope Lutheran Church, and St. Joseph’s Hospice for their devoted care of Joan and her family.

Joan’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com Obituary submitted by family of Joan.

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