Joni Mehlhop was born on July 27, 1945, in Minneapolis to Adela Bruesehoff. She lived in Green Isle with her grandma, Anna Bruesehoff, aunt and uncle, Trudy and Arthur White, and cousins, Charles and Danny until age 9. She was adopted by Vern Wallow when he married her mother, Adela, around that time and the family moved to New Ulm. At age 13 she spent a year in a full body brace after a surgery for scoliosis. She graduated from New Ulm Public High School in 1963. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Mehlhop, April 18, 1964. Their first child, Pamela, was born in 1966 and a son, Patrick, followed in 1968.

Before marriage, she worked as a telephone operator but was required to leave her position after becoming a mother. She was then a stay-home mom who enjoyed baking, reading, doing puzzles, crafting, and keeping busy with her family. She began her career as a bus driver when Pamela started kindergarten. She was well-known and loved by students and parents as the driver of bus #44. She loved the kids and fellow employees at the “bus garage” where she and her close friend, Jody Wieland, washed buses and regularly fed the staff.

Joni lived a full life. Her family regularly counted down the days to the next time they’d get to enjoy her famous potato pancakes or hotdish. Hardly a Saturday went by when you wouldn’t find fresh baked coffee cake and cinnamon rolls or oatmeal raisin cookies cooling on the kitchen counter. In the summers, she gave her grandsons haircuts in the garage. When the time came to repaint a house or get work done outside, she was always the first call–her family knew no one could outwork her. She traveled the country with Ron, by motorcycle and camper both.

She and Ron later moved to Isle, Minnesota to “live on the lake” for seven years. She enjoyed watching the wildlife, sitting on her deck, drinking coffee and visiting with friends. When her neurological decline began, they moved back to New Ulm. She spent her last year at Ridgeway on 23rd.

Joni is survived by her husband, Ron; daughter, Pam Klossner (Alison Miller) and their children Lindsay Dalluge (Josh), Jacob Klossner, Sam, Adam, Jordan, Elijah, Jessica, Greg (Hailey), Jazzy K, Manuel and Jasmin Miller; son, Patrick (Tara) and their children Nicholas (Morgan), Ashley and Johnathon (Hannah); great grandchildren, Jade, Jules, Justice and Josey Dalluge and Mylah Mehlhop.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Adela Wallow and Vern Wallow, grandmother Anna Bruesehoff, aunt and uncle Trudy and Arthur White and cousin Danny White.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. with a service and lunch to immediately follow.

She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed.

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