Jo Ann D. Eckart

Jo Ann Delores Eckart, age 76 of Blaine, MN passed away peacefully on March 19th, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Jo Ann was born January 10, 1947 in Minneapolis to Hendricka (Harriet) and Clarence (Bud) Drulenski. She grew up on Lexington Ave. in Blaine, and spent her life on Lexington Ave. on the property that was shared with her grandparents and her mom. She graduated from Centennial High School in 1965 and worked at Rod’s Drive-In for many years; she loved her time waitressing, and would often tell people about her regulars and how much she loved working there. She met the love of her life, Duane, and they were married on May 17, 1964 in Hudson, WI; they built a home on the property on Lexington Ave., where they raised their four children.

It wasn’t until 2007 that she and Duane moved to the trailer in Blaine to help care for her mother-in-law. Her ability to care for her family was a great sense of pride for her.  She was so proud of her kids and grandkids, and her greatest joy was the time she got to spend with them. She loved getting phone calls from them and hearing about their day or week or their latest accomplishment. Nothing was more exciting to her, though, than when she was going to become a great-grandma. Even though she wasn’t as mobile as she would have liked to be, she was so in love with those three new babies that were a part of her life, and she loved every second she got to be with them.

Jo Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Duane; her parents, Harriet and Bud Drulenski; her infant son, Darrel; her angel baby; and her brother, Brett Drulenski.

She is survived by her four children, Dean, Darren (Cyndi), Gidget (Eric) Casiday, and Lee (Sena); 11 grandchildren, Amber Eckart (Chris Beatty), Crystal Eckart (Chris Oien), Darla Eckart, Dylan Eckart, Christine Eckart (Cody Beyers), Matthew Eckart, Isabelle Eckart, April and Emily Casiday, and Jayden and Ava Eckart; three great-grandchildren, Eleanor and Lily Ann Beatty and Liam Eckart-Oien; sisters, Kim Daugherty and Alisa Kuhn; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.

Funeral service 11 AM Friday, March 24 at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-LINO LAKES, 7050 Lake Dr (County Hwy 23). Interment Morningside Memorial Gardens. Visitation 5-8 PM Thursday and from 10-11 AM Friday at the funeral home. A luncheon at St. Joseph of the Lakes Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes, will follow the interment.