Guest Speaker on All Things Mississippi River
“JoAnn was fabulous as a speaker. I went to every one of her daily talks. Very interesting and informative. ”
— American Cruise Lines Guest
“"If you are looking for a great speaker on an unusual topic, we highly recommend JoAnn's "Pearl Button Boom", an interesting and little known piece of history. She is not only warm and articulate but a pleasure to meet. You won't be disappointed."”
— Jan Wolff, Program Committee Member, MN UU Fellowship
“JoAnn was excellent. I appreciated her knowledge and passion for the subject matter she presented.”
— American Cruise Lines Guest
It might seem incongruous to think that a professional musician would be a guest speaker on all things Mississippi river. But it is a natural for JoAnn.
In addition to acquiring a piano performance degree, she also has a degree in biology. Her two favorite subject: limnology - the study of freshwater lakes, and ornithology. And she has a lifelong love of the Mississippi.
“I grew as a Mississippi River rat kid, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, spending endless hours exploring the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge backwater in my flatboat or canoe, camping, birding, sailing, hunting, dreaming, fishing and waterskiing," she explained.
JoAnn is the daughter of Fred Funk, noted Upper Mississippi river conservationist. “I learned so much about all aspects of the river from him, ” said JoAnn.
The Mississippi ran in JoAnn's veins but was dormant until she stepped aboard the American Cruise Lines luxury riverboats as an entertainer and began traveling the length of the Mississippi, as well as the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee. With her river background, she quickly made the transition to becoming a Guest Speaker as well as Entertainer.
“Suddenly all the stories and history were right in front of me, in places I was seeing and standing. After over 200 hundred trips up and down the Mississippi, from New Orleans to St. Paul, I know the Mississippi and its tributaries in a way few people do. A passion was awakened inside me, to learn as much as I could about this river and share it. I love nothing more than seeing people get as excited about this Mississippi River as I am … well, I am a river nerd so maybe that’s not possible. But whatever their interests: wildlife, ecology, steamboats, locks and dams, the Civil War on the Mississippi, bridges … I love seeing a spark of interest or understanding.”
Her biology background helps her understand how ecosystems work, so she can clearly explain all issues. With her background as a performing musician, she is comfortable onstage and has an engaging presence.
JoAnn has been a guest speaker for American Cruise Lines since 2014, as well as speaking for many Minnesota based life long learning groups.
Guest Speaker for American Cruise Lines since 2014
Her father, Fred Funk, pictured here with JoAnn, was a noted Upper Mississippi River conservationist. JoAnn grew up knowing every aspect of the Mississippi River, and from his work, being aware of all the issues that confront it.
February 2026 - JoAnn toured the dewatered Upper Mississippi Lock and Dam 7, and learned more about its secret inner workings.