JoAnn Kay Prange

JoAnn K Prange, 83, of Overland Park, KS, passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. She was born on September 30th, 1942, in Emmetsburg, Iowa to William Howard and Helen Marie (Witt) Bryant. She was the second of four children. JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband Loren Prange; her parents; as well as her brothers, Gale Bryant and Larry Bryant.

In her earlier years, JoAnn was involved in youth sports up until high school and excelled in basketball. She was also a member of the 4H Club, where her lamb won first place at the county fair. She later moved to Omaha where she met Loren Prange and they married on October 20, 1962, in Pueblo, CO. A few years later, in 1965, they welcomed their son, James Wendell in Burnsville, MN. It was also that year that she and Loren established Sandy Lake tree farm in Tenstrike, MN. In 1971 Loren took a job in sales, so they moved to Kansas where they eventually called home. JoAnn was involved in PTA as well as coaching Jim’s basketball teams while also beginning her career in insurance, working for Mark Dietz and later for Sam Davis, where she eventually retired in early 2000.

She loved spending summers up at the lake where she and Loren managed Sandy Lake Tree Farm. They were always hosting and entertaining family and friends at the lake. JoAnn especially loved playing card games, fishing and even teaching her youngest grandson how to safely shoot a gun and would take her oldest grandson out for driving lessons. She always enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, attending their sports and school events and would make their birthdays and holidays extra special. She had a talent for sewing and taught her granddaughter how to sew. They would spend hours just to get the precise stitch, even while making doll clothes. Recently she was able to meet and hold her first great-grandchild, Nellie.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, William Howard and Helen Marie (Witt) Bryant; and brothers, Larry Bryant and Gale Bryant. She is survived by son James W. and wife, Maureen (Occhipinto) Prange of Overland Park; her grandchildren, Maggie (Mitchell) Sheets of Prairie Village, KS, Shamus, Patrick and Ian Prange, all of Overland Park, KS. Her great-granddaughter, Cornelia “Nellie” Sheets. Her sister Betty Wells of Detroit Lakes, MN; brothers-in-law, Terry (Sandy) Prange, Phyllis (Lloyd) Piepho and Tripp (Andy) Riutel in addition to many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation at 1:30pm, followed by the celebration of JoAnn's life at 2:00pm will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Good Shepherd Hospice Olathe, Kansas.