Joan Petersen, age 87 of Wall Lake, IA, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, November 14, 2019. She was a resident at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake.
Joan Pauline Wilken was born on August 11, 1932, to parents Ferdinand and Edna (Gosch) Wilken in Sac County, Iowa. She and her two brothers, Russell and Paul, grew up on a farm near Odebolt, IA. Joan was baptized in 1932, and was confirmed in 1947, at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. She attended school in Odebolt and graduated from Odebolt High School with the Class of 1950.
On May 8, 1954, Joan married Reynold Petersen at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. This union was blessed with three daughters: Linda, Deb, and Pam. Ray and Joan raised their family in Iowa and North Dakota.
In 1992, after Ray retired, he and Joan moved to Osakis, MN, to live on the lake. Joan worked as a Bank Teller and Income Tax Preparer until retiring in 1994. She served as Treasurer at church and participated in several women’s groups throughout her life. In 2002, they moved back to Wall Lake. While in Wall Lake, she became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. As the seasons changed, Joan took pleasure in suitably decorating the church basement.
Joan enjoyed sewing and crafting. She sewed all her daughters’ clothes as they were growing up. At one time, she owned her own business – Granny Joanny’s Crafts – and participated in many craft shows. While Ray attended the Seminary, Joan taught others the specialized embroidery technique used on pastor’s robes. Growing up as a farm girl, she enjoyed being outdoors in nature, especially watching birds and other animals. Many people benefited from her love of cooking delicious meals, often at the spur of the moment.
Joan was a faithful servant throughout her 87 years of earthly life. She loved her family and enjoyed nothing more than getting to spend time with all of them. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Linda (Stan) Bromley of Minot, ND; Deb (Jeffery) Husebye of Garrison, ND; and Pam (Rick) Tovar of Delafield, WI; grandchildren: Jen (Kwang) Grondahl Lee, Eric Grondahl, Jared Grondahl, Jason Bromley, Amanda (Tyler) Bromley Ruelle, Philip Bromley, Katherine Tovar, Laura (Seth) Tovar Hart, Adam Tovar, Margaret Tovar, Rey Tovar; seven great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Minard (Susie) Petersen of Lake View, IA, Merlin (Doris) Petersen of Martinsville, IN; sisters-in-law Joyce Wilken of Odebolt, IA, Bertha Sundrup of Aurora, CO; many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Ray Petersen; parents Ferdinand and Edna Wilken; brothers Russell Wilken and Paul (Bonnie) Wilken; nephews Neal Wilken and Dave Wilken; brother-in-law Vernon (Pat) Petersen; and sister-in-law Irene Waters.
