Obituary of Joyce Marie Harapat

Joyce Marie (Janssen) Harapat, age 87, of Pine City,MN, passed away on November 29, 2024, in her apartment at Timber Pines Senior Living.

Joyce was born on September 23, 1937, in Brook Park, MN. She was the daughter of Joseph and Olga Janssen. She graduated from Pine City High School in 1956 and moved to Minneapolis to work at Honeywell.

On October 26, 1957, Joyce married Jim Harapat and started their family in 1958. They had three children: Jill, Jeff, and Todd.

Jim’s job took them to Mora, Stewartville, Plainview, Sandstone, and Hinckley. Joyce was a homemaker and kept everything running smoothly at home. When the kids were grown, she opened a gift and antique store, Country Cupboard, in Hinckley. 

Joyce loved fishing, camping, making crafts, going to auctions/garage sales, bingo, and most of all her family. She never tired of sitting in the bleachers or auditorium cheering on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 2020, Joyce met Leo Pangerl and they were on the go together all the time. He was a very special person to Joyce and remains special to her family.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Olga Janssen; her husband of 59 years, James Harapat; brother, Dennis Janssen; and son-in-law, Todd White.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Sharon Andersen; daughter, Jill White; sons Jeff (Betty) Harapat, and Todd Harapat; grandchildren, Krissa (Mark) Byom, Bethany (Chad) Hardy, Chelsea Kirchmeier, Melissa (Joel) Varner, Brian (Katy) White; great grandchildren, William, Ryland, and Adalyn Byom, Cameron Hardy, Treyson and Finnick Varner, and Carter White.

A celebration of Joyce’s life will occur on December 9, 2024 at 1:00pm in Pine City at First Presbyterian Church with a celebration of life and light refreshments and time to reminisce following the service.