Joanne Watlov Boblett Obit

Joanne Watlov Boblett, 67, passed away peacefully at home after a courageous 11-year battle with fallopian tube cancer.  Joanne was guided through this journey by her incredibly strong faith in the Lord, living without fear of dying, knowing she would be with Him. Joanne was born Jan. 17, 1956 to Reuben and Gladys Watlov in Minneapolis and spent her childhood in Fridley. She graduated from Fridley High School, and attained her teaching degree at Bethel College in St. Paul. She was a star athlete in several sports in high school and college. A woman of many talents, Joanne enjoyed success as a school teacher, singer, computer programmer, social services administrator, volleyball coach and for the past 19-plus years, newspaper publisher. Her life was full of adventures, which included traveling the western United States and Canada as a singer in the band where she met her future husband, once spending six months performing in the Northwest Territories near the North Pole. During most of the 1980s, Joanne lived in the Boston area and was instrumental in developing one of the first real-time online business telecommunications systems in the world. In 1989, Joanne and Paul relocated to the Twin Cities and were married. The couple’s three children were born in 1991, 1993 and 1995. During this time, Joanne worked for her sister, Sue, as a grant writer and administrator for Elim Transitional Housing, helping families, individuals and youth  experiencing homelessness to move into their own housing. In 2002, the family moved to Outing where she and Paul founded the Northland Press newspaper in 2005. Joanne’s greatest source of joy was her love for the Lord, her children, husband, family, friends, and spending time together with them on Lake Washburn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Gladys Watlov, and her grandparents. Joanne is survived by her husband, Paul, daughters Faith and Kendra, son Trevor (Jenny), granddaughter Hazel Jo; siblings, Rob Watlov (Jo Ellen), Diane Collins, Sue Watlov Phillips; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at Kline Funeral Home in Pequot Lakes on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a monetary donation to your local food shelf. Arrangements are with Kline Funeral Home, Pequot Lakes.