Obituary of Joan Margaret Henrik

Joan Margaret Henrik, age 75, passed away on October 24, 2017 surrounded by her loving children after a valiant fight against uterine cancer. It wasn't the cancer that won; it was the unconditional love that surrounded her that won. Joan was born on March 5, 1942 in Duluth, MN. She was the second daughter of Albert and Emma Henrikson. After graduating from Duluth Central High School in 1960, she attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. In 1963, she moved to Minneapolis with her family and worked at several advertising agencies. In 1976 Joan established and coowned the design firm of Radosevich, Mayer and Associates, which was the first women owned advertising agency in the Twin Cities. Being strong and talented women, their agency introduced progressive ideas. They were the first and only agency to design and publish a weekly kid's paper, The Smile Factory', which was distributed inside the Sunday edition of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. In 1982 after dissolving her company, she returned to Duluth and joined the agency of Westmoreland, Larson and Hill until her retirement in 2008. During that time Joan's creative hands worked on many historical Duluth business projects including Duluth Depot, Bridgeman's, Potlatch, Otis Magie Insurance, Duluth Clinic Foundation, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, City of Duluth, Scottish Rite Clinic, Fryberger Law Firm, Kolquist Seitz and Goldman, Gleensheen, Orthopaedic Assoc., Ordean Foundation, Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Superior Computer Products, Fitgers, Marshall School, UMD, College of St. Scholastica, Minnesota Power, Duluth Aquarium and many others. Joan was a visual artist and graphic designer who saw the world in a different hue. She was guided by passion and by the need to create. She believed our emotions and dreams are amplified by art. Her focus was on fine art and public art. She participated in local art exhibitions, juried shows and calls for public art. Joan received over 125 design awards, both local and national. Her only portrait collection is owned by Minnesota Power. In 2009 Joan was awarded the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award for lifetime achievement. In 2011 Joan designed her first public art terrazzo floor for the DECC in Duluth, MN. The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association selected her floor design as one of the best terrazzo floors in the United States. Joan has received many honors and recognitions for her art and just recently published a book entitled Winds and Currents. Through the years, Joan impacted people in a way that made friendships last a lifetime. She looked at life as she did art, and always enjoyed adding strokes of color to everyone's canvases. As a young lady, Joan had an affinity for many of the fine arts including being a pianist, a violinist and being involved in the junior symphony and theatre. She was also a member of Mensa which is the largest IQ society whose members score at the 98th percentile or higher on intelligence tests. Joan had the unique ability to see the fun and beauty in everything, and created lasting memories in people's lives. She stood up for what she believed, loved from her heart and always danced if the band played. She will always be remembered for her eccentric flair and signature fashion of hats. She loved to sit quietly by the lake, to read and dance and sing. She loved watching summer storms blow across the water and chatting with good friends until laughter and tears ran down their faces! Of all the things Joan did in this life, nothing compared to being a mom. Her spirit is carried on through her three children, Todd (Laura) Radosevich, Jodie (Billy) Makovec and Tim (Carol) Radosevich, her 8 grandchildren, one great-grandson and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life. She will forever be remembered for her signature line "I am an artist!" She will also be remembered for her laughter, her love and her artistic presence that made being around her a little more spiritual'. In the end, to have loved Joanie was to see the world in a different color! A celebration of Joan's life will be on Monday, October 30, 2017 at 11:00am at the DECC in Duluth, MN. A light lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, please give a donation in Joan Henrik's name to: The Depot Foundation 130 W. Superior St. Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: 218-279-9913