Joann Marie Dawson

With hearts full of love and profound sorrow we announce the passing of JoAnn Marie (Vlasak) Dawson. She lost her courageous battle with brain cancer on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

JoAnn was the second oldest of 8 children, born on April 9, 1951 to Alvin and Rita (Moore) Vlasak. She grew up on the family farm 4 ½ miles southwest of Montgomery. She attended Holy Redeemer and graduated from MLHS in 1969. After high school she went to Faribault Technical School for practical nursing. After deciding nursing wasn't for her she moved to Minneapolis to attend Patricia Stevens School of Fashion Merchandising and worked at Dayton's Dept Store. It was around that time she met her future husband Thomas "Dutch" Dawson whom she married on April 20, 1974. They lived in Burnsville where they built a home. JoAnn loved to travel and always wanted to work for the airlines. For the next 15 years she worked as a ticket/gate agent at the Minneapolis Airport for airlines such as Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff, Reno Air and TWA. After moving back to Montgomery with her family, she continued working before eventually retiring from European Roasterie in LeCenter.

While in Montgomery she got involved in the Montgomery Area Community Club, the Women of Today, PTO, the Arts and Heritage Center, and the Alter Guild at St John Lutheran Church.

JoAnn loved to read and play cards and bowling. One of her favorite past times was visiting vineyards and breweries with family and friends. JoAnn was very proud of her Irish and Czech heritage and would take every opportunity to celebrate, on St Patricks Day, Kolacky Days and Dozinky Days.

JoAnn will be remembered by many as a wonderful friend who was always cracking jokes and never taking life too seriously. She will be missed but will live in our hearts forever.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Thomas "Dutch"; their 3 children, Teri (Jim) Drewitz of Montgomery, Peter Dawson of St. Cloud, Sam (Michelle) Dawson of Chaska; and grandchildren, Paige Larson, Ian Drewitz, Crosby and Margot Dawson.

She is also survived by sister-in-law, Melinda Vlasak of Montgomery; brothers Gordon (Kristin) Vlasak of Walker MN/ Ft Myers, Richard (Liz) Vlasak of Montgomery; Kurt (Colleen) Vlasak of Lake Havasu City, AZ and Minnetonka; sister, June Vosejpka (Jerome "Butch" Krocak) of Lexington; and many nieces and nephews relatives and friends.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents, maternal grandparents Nicolas and Mary (Duane) Moore; paternal grandparents, James and Francis Vlasak; brother, Greg Vlasak; and sisters-in-law, Sandra Vlasak and Deb Cieluch Vlasak.

Visitation will be held at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery on Thursday, November 12, 2026 from 3 - 6 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral service will be at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM, lunch will follow the service at Next Chapter Winery. Burial will be at a later date.