Johanna Kreun Pals was born on January 23, 1913 in Norman County, Minnesota to Cornelius and Gertrude (Bruxvoort) Kreun.  In 1917, her parents moved to a farm west of Chandler, Minnesota known as the Valley View Farm.  She was the oldest of 12 living children.  She completed high school, plus one year of teacher training.  She became a teacher in a one room country school for a few years. 

On January 2, 1943, Jo was married to Arie Pals and farmed near Orange City, Iowa.  In 1944, they bought a farm seven miles NW of Edgerton, MN where they raised their family.  They retired in 1977 and moved to Edgerton.  In 1980, Arie passed away and Jo lived in her home until January of 2004.  Jo suffered a stroke and became a resident of Edgebrook Care Center for the past 11 years.  On Wednesday, February 11, 2015, Jo died at Edgebrook at the age of 102 years and 19 days.

Jo loved the outdoors.  She was known for her vegetable and flower gardens, plants in her house, and was an avid bird watcher. 

Jo gave a lot of her time to volunteering.  She was an active member of the Ruth Circle at 1st Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton and often led the Bible study.  She devoted a lot of her time to Southwest Christian High and the Edgebrook Auxiliary.  She led a ladies Bible study at Edgebrook for 13 years until her stroke.

Those preceding her in death are her husband, Arie; a daughter, Lois; three brothers; and five sisters.

Jo is lovingly remembered by her five children, Genevieve (Edward) Riekena of Grand Rapids, MN, Curt (Sue) Pals of Jenison, Michigan, Ethel “Joey” (Nolan) Vander Ark of Denver, Colorado, Duane (Judy) Pals of Orange City, Iowa, and Ken (Christie) Pals of Fort Collins, Colorado; 12 grandchildren, Rob (Kristie) Riekana, David Riekana, Jennifer (Jeff) Lilgendahl, Eric (Emily) Pals, Nicholas (Susan) Vander Ark, Nancy (Jon) Waanders, Tamela (Justin) Gross, Darin (Krista) Pals, Kari (Joshua) Davison, Kimberly (Brandon) Miller, Robin Pals, Heide (Sean) Kalra; 24 great-grandchildren, Sheyanne, Jacob, Amber, Kalina, Henry, Jackson, Juliette, Norman, Geoffrey, Ari, Mieke, Geneva, Tyler, Katelyn, Lexi, Tanner, Allison, Tyra, Danielle, Oliver, Evelyn, Addaly, Breeah, and Cargan; one great-great-grandchild, Jaylah; two sisters, Caroline Schierbeek, Priscilla (Cliff) Christians; one brother, Charles Kreun; two sisters-in-law, Ruby Kreun, and Delia Pals; and many nephews and nieces.