Josephine Wicklund

Josephine Wicklund, age 90, a resident of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, died on Sunday, May 9, 2010, at Pelican Valley Nursing Home in Pelican Rapids.Josephine Elsie Korinek was born on May 20, 1919 in Minneapolis to John and Suzannah (nee Saliny) Korinek, who immigrated as teenagers from the Austria-Hungarian territory of Slovakia. Josephine was their fourth daughter, with a sister and brother to follow. Her parents were proud that they learned English and became American citizens but the family spoke only Slovak at home. Jo, as she became to be known by her friends and family, was baptized and confirmed using her parents native Slovak language. Jo kept her ability to speak fluent Slovak during her adulthood.During high school at South High in Minneapolis, she played first violin in the school orchestra, and continued her love of music throughout her life.She met the love of her life, Philip Rod Wicklund on a blind date.They were married on November 26, 1938.The couple moved to Farmington, Minnesota where Phil was engineer for a dairy company.After the start of World War II, pregnant with her first child, Jo supported her husband in his commitment to serve in the Navy Seabees. In his absence, Jo moved in with her parents in Minneapolis, and gave birth to Phyllis Jo.Following Phyllis Jos birth, she continued to live with her parents, until she and Phyllis moved to Faribault to live with dear friends, Emeline and Lewis Sower.Jo worked for the dairy, testing milk. When Phil returned from duty in the South Pacific in 1946, the family moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where Phil was Chief Engineer for North Star Dairy. A daughter, Joyce Ann, was born at this time.Pelican Rapids, Minnesota became the new home to the family in January 1951 when Phil and Jo purchased the Allis Chalmers dealership. At that time, the shop was located across from the Pelican Rapids Press office.In 1956, they moved to a farm on the northern edge of Pelican Rapids and built new quarters for Wicklund Farm Supply (currently Rapid Marine). Jo was the bookkeeper and sold parts for the business.In her active life in the Pelican Rapids community, she served as Treasurer of the Pelican Rapids School Board for 12 years, was active in Eastern Star, and was a leader of Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls. She volunteered at First Congregational Church, helping to serve weekly dinners for The Rotary Club.She taught the Norwegian art of hardanger needlework to many friends.She volunteered at Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion at Rollag, Minnesota, and one year was chosen as Steam Queen.She and Phil spent winters in Weslaco, Texas for 35 years, where she taught two daily water aerobic classes for over 30 years.Following Phils death in 2004, she moved into Riverfront Manor, and later to Pelican Valley Nursing Home in Pelican Rapids.Jo was the sole surviving sibling of her family of six children and their spouses. She is survived by daughters, Phyllis Jo (Richard) Gilbert, Pelican Rapids, and Joyce Ann Wicklund, Grand Forks, North Dakota, grandchildren, Scott Gilbert, Jackson, MS and Nicole (Darrin) Dufresne, Edina, MN and great grandchildren, Luella and Ruby Jo Dufresne, and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her husband, Phil; parents, John and Suzannah; and all her siblings.Memorials suggested to Pelican Valley Nursing Home.Blessed Be The Memory Of Josephine Wicklund