Joanne Elizabeth (Norris) Reese, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, received her ultimate healing and went to be with her Lord on May 2, 2026.

Joanne was born on December 8, 1963, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to David and Dorothy Norris. She was a graduate of Apostolic Bible Institute and later earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with a minor in music, from Concordia College. In June of 1988, Joanne married the love of her life, Greg Reese. She was a devoted and loving mother to her three children: David Reese, Benjamin Reese (Jennifer), and Hannah Dyer (Damian).

Joanne’s life was a beautiful melody of love, service, and grace. She shared her musical gifts for over fifty years, playing piano and organ at church, filling spaces with joy and worship. As a dedicated special education teacher, she poured her heart into every student, seeing their potential and lifting them up. With her husband, she found peace at the beach, walking barefoot, collecting shells, and cherishing those quiet moments together. She loved her children and grandchildren with a fierce, unwavering devotion, always ready with a hug, a word of encouragement, or a listening ear.

A true prayer warrior, Joanne approached life with open arms; there were no strangers in her world, only friends yet to meet. Her home was a haven of welcome, her spirit one of endless generosity. She gave selflessly, sacrificed without complaint, and always chose to see the good in others. She was the ultimate encourager, the steady supporter who made everyone around her feel valued and loved. Her legacy lives on in the music she played, the lives she taught, the prayers she lifted, and the hearts she touched.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Greg Reese; her children, David, Benjamin (Jennifer), and Hannah Dyer (Damian); and her five beautiful grandchildren, Raelynn Reese, Amelia and Guinevere Reese, Sawyer, and Eleanor Dyer; siblings, Barb Dawson of Wooster, OH, David (Nancy) Norris of St. Charles, MO, Linda (Tony) Ducklow of St. Paul, MN and Robert (Denise) Norris of Pryor, OK; sister-in-law Cathy (Alton) Enderson of Albert Lea, MN and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her grandparents Rev SG and Jessie Norris; parents, David and Dorothy Norris; her sister, Pat Roos; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Barbara Reese; and her brother-in-law, Steven Reese, Nephews, John Dawson, Nathaniel Norris, Liam Steve and Ryan Riffle (husband of niece Julie Dawson Riffle).