Joan Apitz, age 84 of New Ulm died suddenly on Monday, March 4, 2019, at her home.

Funeral service will be 11 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.  Pastor Timothy Smith will officiate, and burial will follow in the St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery immediately following the service.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Monday, March 11, 2019 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-North Chapel in New Ulm and continue from 10-11 am on Tuesday at the church.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Joan is survived by her children, John (Gail) Apitz, Scott (Sharon) Apitz, Jean Friederich, Mike (Cindy) Apitz, Kari Apitz (Tim Meidl), and Bryan (Amy) Apitz all of New Ulm and Lisa Apitz (Bob Pumper) Of Mankato; grandchildren, Anna, David and Sheila Apitz, Brian (Marcy) Kral, Michelle, Ashley, and Zachary Apitz, Kaitlin Apitz (Eric Dailey) and Blake Schnobrich; great –grandchildren, Elly, Brooklynn, Braydon, Miranda, Austin, Tayden and Jameson; her brother Jerry Stimpert, and sister-in-law, Lillian Stimpert of Sleepy Eye, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Margaret; her husband, Harold; infant daughter, Michelle Apitz; brother, Merton Stimpert; sisters, Jean Stimpert and Pat Stoneberg; brother-in-law, Jerry Stoneberg; sister-in-law, Rosie Stimpert.

Joan (Stimpert) Apitz was born January 24, 1935, to Arnold and Margaret (Ubl) Stimpert in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.  She graduated from Sleepy Eye St. Mary's High School in 1953 and married Harold "Buddy" Apitz on June 17, 1954, at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church parsonage in New Ulm, Minnesota.  Joan and Harold operated the Apitz Service Station on North Front Street after marriage until Harold died in June of 1991.  Later in life Joan worked at the Super 9 Motel and Microtel as a house keeper.  She enjoyed working in her yard and loved to bake and try new recipes.  She especially loved the laughter of her children and grandchildren who gathered every Friday evening at her house for "Happy Hour" where she was never shy about voicing her opinion on any subject brought up.  She will be greatly missed by her family and everyone who knew her.

Memorials are preferred to the St. Paul's Lutheran School Building Fund.