JoAnn "Jo/Jan" Stork

JoAnn Stork, 82, of Mandan, passed away January 22, 2026, in a Bismarck hospital.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, January 30, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Mandan with Pastor Phil Leer officiating and honors by the North Dakota Nurse Honor Guard. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Just like pieces of material that are collected for quilts… Jo Stork collected those pieces her whole life to make memories.

JoAnn was the third born to J. Herbert and Eldora (Peterson) Johnson on the farm in Eagle Bend, Minnesota. She grew up with four brothers and one sister--Howard, Reynard, Lindy, Butch, and Beverly. Her family attended a country church where Jo was baptized and confirmed. She attended a small country school with less than 40 students and kept in touch with her classmates throughout her life.

Jo graduated from Eagle Bend Public High School in 1961, and went on to attend Abbott School of Nursing, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During her 50-year nursing career at Mandan Hospital, MedCenter One, and Sanford, Jo made many lifelong friends. She was honored to receive a certificate from the State of North Dakota acknowledging her 50 years of service in nursing.

Jo met the love of life at a barn dance while in college. She married Mervin Stork in 1964, and they had three children. Mervin worked at the Mandan Research Center for 27 years and owned his own business, Stork’s Blading for 15 years. They were married for 61 years.

Throughout her life, Jo was known to be an adventurer--always ready to travel and learn something new. She could sew, quilt, embroider, mend, crochet, garden, can foods & jams, and bake, including her award-winning apple pie. She loved fishing, was a master-level UNO player, loved cards & board games, supported NDSU football, adored dogs, and counted the 4th of July as her favorite holiday.

Jo had a deep passion for volunteering & giving back to her community. She served on the Mandan Eagles Auxiliary and as President of the Sanford on Sunset Auxiliary Gift Shop, where she not only volunteered but also created many of the handmade items sold there. She was a devoted member of First Lutheran Church, where she enjoyed quilting, volunteering with LAF, and helping with baking and kitchen duties for many years.

With all quilts, you have to have a pattern, material, and thread. This makes up her 3 children.

Brian Stork who lived most of his life in CA, worked for the Navy for 35 years, is now retired, and living in Mandan. Brad Stork lives in Mandan with his wife, Becky. Brad is a Nurse Practitioner and Becky is an RN. They have two daughters who are all grown up. Sydney, an RN & her husband, Cole Schaff, a truck driver, live in Mandan and have 2 children (Beau & Scarlett, the GREAT GRANDKIDS). Lakyn, a radiology technologist, lives and works in Hazen. In the summer, you could find Jo, supporting Lakyn at softball games. Jo loved her granddaughters to the moon & back. Barbara (Stork) Schober is retired and lives with her husband, Ryan, in Maryland.

Jo’s sister and beast friend, Beverly Teigland, lives in Arkansas and was blessed to spend Jo’s final month by her side. The family will always cherish how the two giggled together like little girls whenever they were reunited.

Jo will be fondly remembered for saying: “I got it,” “I’m ok,” “Wanna see my latest quilt?” and “You wearing that?”—usually right before you headed out the door.

And as with all good quilts, the final step is attaching a label.

Jo Stork’s quilt label would read:

Never be afraid to try anything.

Hand pieced always.

Made with love.

🕯️We will miss her as a friend, wife, mom, mother-in-law, sister, grandma, great grandma, aunt, and cousin.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Reynard.