Joan Laughlin

Joan H. (Mrs. Tom) Laughlin, age 75 of Faribault, died Friday, January 15, 2010 at her home with family present after battling cancer less than a year.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault with the Rev. Fernando Ortega officiating. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday for one hour prior to services.             The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Kiwanis Tom Laughlin Scholarship Fund, Faribault Area Hospice, Divine Mercy Catholic Church Building Fund or the Salvation Army.             Joan Harriet Otto, the daughter of Harry and Geneva (Schaub) Otto, was born on June 4, 1934 in Hancock, MN. When Joan was eight years old her family moved to St. Paul, MN where she later attended Murray High School and graduated with the class of 1952. After high school she attended the University of Minnesota majoring in science and nursing.  On October 6, 1956 she was united in marriage to Thomas J. Laughlin at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in St. Paul. They moved to Faribault in 1965. Joan worked at Rice County Courthouse for many years as the administrative assistant to the Rice County Administrator. On May 13, 2004 Tom preceded her in death.  Joan loved her family and was a very dedicated mother and grandmother. Joan was a very intelligent woman, knowledgeable about history and current events. Being active in her Catholic faith was important to Joan and she participated in different prayer groups and was a member of the choir for many years. She also enjoyed reading, traveling with Tom, playing the piano, sewing and making clothes, the arts, (music, orchestra and theater), history, crossword puzzles and Jeopardy, watching the Food Network channel and watching sports, specifically the Minnesota Twins.             She is survived by her four children, Maureen Laughlin (Duane Ninneman) of Ortonville, MN, Julie (Jeff) Mensing of Glenwood, MN, Paul (Linda) Laughlin of Faribault and Carolyn (Steve) Bennett of Marshall, MN; by seven grandchildren, Brady Mensing, Katie Laughlin, Brittany Mensing, Phil Laughlin, Olivia Bennett, Andy Laughlin and Matt Bennett; by her brother Jim (Marge) Otto of Sacramento, CA and by her faithful King Charles Cavalier, Max and other relatives and friends.             She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Tom.