Joan Gaertner, 87, of New Ulm was called to her Savior's side in heaven on July 23, 2025, after a brief illness. Joan LaVerne Harting was a gift of God to her parents, Lorvin and Edna Harting on July 9, 1938, in Kirkwood, MO. She graduated from Kirkwood High School. She then attended Valparaiso University; while there, she was introduced to John Gaertner. After graduating with a degree in education, she taught math for several years at Racine (WI) Lutheran High School.  Joan and John were married on June 15, 1963 and were blessed with over 62 years of marriage. Their marriage was blessed with 4 children. Joan was a loving and supportive wife- serving alongside her husband in various ministry locations, a caring mother and loved to bake and cook.

She is survived by her husband John; her 4 children: Joel (LuAnn) Gaertner, Jeff (Lisa) Gaertner, Jill (Jonathan) Roux, and Julie (Brett) Weishalla; her 9 grandchildren: Elizabeth (Tyler) Tolonen, Philip (Beth) Gaertner, Ethan Gaertner, Jake Gaertner, Kaitlyn Roux, Micah (Hannah) Roux, Emma Weishalla, Katherine Weishalla and Sophia Weishalla; and her 4 great grandchildren: Natalie Tolonen, Ruby Tolonen, Edward Tolonen, and Adaline Gaertner. She is further survived by one sister-in-law, Suzanne Holzhueter; one brother-in-law; Hugh Jahn and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Judy Jones; one brother-in-law, Donald Holzhueter and one sister-in-law, Nancy Jahn.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to a scholarship fund that John and Joan established at Martin Luther College in memory of their parents: https://mlc-wels.edu/scholarships/gaertner-and-harting-memorial-fund/

A Christian victory celebration for Joan will be held on Sunday, July 27 at St. John's Lutheran Church 627 S. Washington St. in New Ulm. Visitation will be 1:30-3 pm with the memorial service to follow at 3 pm with Pastor Jeffrey Bovee officiating. Burial will take place in the St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.  To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)