JoAnn "Jo" Lynn Kretchmer, age 60, of Cavour, SD went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at her home in Cavour surrounded by her family after a courageous four-year and eight month  battle with pancreatic cancer.

Her funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron with burial at the St. Patrick's Cemetery in Cavour.

Visitation, with the family present, will be from 5-7 p.m.  Tuesday, October 11, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron, with a time of sharing to begin at 7:00 p.m.; or visitation one hour prior to the service at the Church on Wednesday.

JoAnn Lynn French, the daughter of Marvin D. and Darlene R. (Mack) French, was born on July 25, 1956 in Rapid City, SD.  JoAnn grew up in the Cavour area, attended grade school in Cavour, SD, and graduated from Iroquois High School in 1974.  She went on to attend the University of South Dakota and graduated with a degree in nursing.

JoAnn married Rod Kretchmer on March 18, 1977 in Huron, SD.  The couple made their home in Huron where JoAnn worked as a nurse at the Huron Regional Medical Center from 1977-1978. In 1978 they moved to Mitchell, SD and she worked as a nurse for the Methodist Hospital from 1978-1981.  In 1981 Rod and JoAnn moved to Cavour, SD.  JoAnn worked as the Beadle County Health Nurse for two years before finishing her career as a nurse for the Huron Regional Medical Center.  JoAnn retired in 2013 after 32 years of service.

JoAnn was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. She also served on the BASEC Board for 17 years. JoAnn enjoyed sewing, crocheting, flower gardening, cooking, and baking.  She enjoyed many years of horseback riding and working with cattle on the farm.

JoAnn loved her family, life, and work, especially coloring, teaching and playing with her grandchildren. Those who knew Jo Ann, knew her as a gentle, kindhearted, and loving individual who was always willing to help others. JoAnn had a great sense of humor.  All through her illness, JoAnn kept a positive attitude and served as an encouragement and example to her family and friends.

Grateful for having shared in JoAnn's life are her husband of 40 years, Rod, of Cavour, SD; her son Tom Kretchmer of Cavour, SD; daughter, Kelly Kretchmer/McDermott also of Cavour, SD; six grandchildren: Karissa and Whitney Kretchmer, Jakob Marone, and Justice, Jasmine, and Jace McDermott; her mother, Darlene (Kevin Baird) French of Cavour, SD; sister, Diane (Greg) Blue of Cavour, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Joann was preceded in death by her father, Marvin French; her grandparents, Edna and William French and Louise and Lawrence Mack.