JoAnn M. Juntunen

JoAnn Juntunen, 82, of Tucson, AZ, formerly St. John, ND died on Thanksgiving day, November 27, 2025 at home. Services and burial will be held in St. John at a later date.

JoAnn Marie was born on March 16, 1943 in Rolla, ND to Howard and Eva (Vandal) James. JoAnn graduated high school from St. Francis Academy in Hankinson, ND. She married Darryl Rene Charbonneau in 1961 and they had three children, Brian, Renee and Darwin. This marriage was later annulled. In 1978, JoAnn married Bill (William) Juntunen.

JoAnn was employed as a bookkeeper at Munro Builders in Rolla, ND for 20 years. She also maintained the books for Bill’s Service Station and later worked as a Deputy Auditor at the Rolette County Courthouse (Rolla).

JoAnn lived in Rolla for most of her life, but weekends were always spent at Lake Upsilon (St. John) with relatives and friends that enjoyed picnics, swimming, fishing, skiing and bon fires.

JoAnn enjoyed making ceramics and even taught classes at one-time. Her many skills included quilting, embroidery, cross-stitching, hardanger, scrapbooking, fishing and gardening. She and Bill enjoyed lake life tremendously, but they also had a love for travel. They took fishing and camping trips around ND, Canada and Alaska. Some of the other places that they traveled included Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco and Hawaii. They had a wonderful life together, shared with cherished friends and relatives. Following retirement they were snowbirds between Lake Upsilon and Mesa, AZ.

JoAnn is survived by her sister-in-law, Joyce James Bushaw of Houston, TX (wife of deceased brother, Ronald), daughter, Renee (Ed Sable) Charbonneau, and son, Brian (Dawn) Charbonneau; granddaughters, Lacey Enga, Jenna (Aaron) Ssemujju, Aimee (Travis Peterson) Charbonneau; great-granddaughters Isabella and Ariella Ssemujju, Reese and Evie Jo Peterson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, son, Darwin, mother and father, Eva and Howard James, brothers, Ronald, Darryl and Larry James, sister-in-law Lynn (Larry) James, sister, Jeanine James, and nephews, Scott and Tim James.