Joan Waibel, age 85, of Bird Island died Sunday November 13, 2011 at Copperfield Senior Living Community in Willmar. Funeral services will be Monday, November 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Bird Island United Methodist Church with Pastor Byron Perrine officiating. Burial will be in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday 4-6 pm at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Bird Island and continues Monday at the church for one hour prior to the service.

Joan S. Waibel was born April 12th, 1926 to Agnes and Peter Segar in Wells, MN. She was the youngest in the family and she survived 4 brothers: Ray, Greg, Frances, and Jim. She married Patrick Waibel April 23rd, 1946. Pat passed away September 12, 2001. They lived in New Ulm at first, and eventually moved to Bird Island in 1962. She resided there until recently. She is survived by her 4 children: Noreen (George) Kozub, Dan (Janet), Bernie (Donna), Marty (Martha), grandsons Ryan Kozub and Jeff (Michelle) Waibel, great grandsons Joseph and Jackson Waibel, and many nieces and nephews.