Joan Peterson

Joan Elaine Peterson, age 83, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones. Joan was born to Thomas Durick and Maxine Fitzpatrick Durick on August 22nd, 1942 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She graduated from Underwood High School in 1960. After high school, Joan attended Boyles-Van Sant Business College in Omaha.

Joan married her high school sweetheart, Jim Peterson, on November 18th, 1961, and they purchased a farm south of Bentley. They raised their family on this farm along with producing row crops, raising black angus cattle and selling Pioneer Seed. She stayed very busy as the bookkeeper for the farming operation, cooking meals for the farm crew and decorating elaborate cakes for all her loved ones' celebrations. She was an incredible cook and will always be remembered for her famous spaghetti and delicious brownies. In her free time, she enjoyed collecting Madam Alexander Dolls, an assortment of fine china and shopping for anything that she thought one of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren would love. She was a member of St John's United Church of Christ for 70 years.

Jim and Joan had four children- Nora, Danny, Janelle and Rachel. She took great pride in being a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother. Joan was exceptional at staying in touch and knowing all the happenings in her family's lives. This was also true for her siblings with whom she stayed very close with and spoke to regularly, as well as special cousins, Nancy Ryan and Mindy Miller.

Joan was lovingly referred to as Bacca by her grandkids, their friends and the children at Rachel's daycare.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Maxine Durick; in-laws, Albert and Gertrude Peterson, Gwen Peterson; sister, Jeannine Jones.

She is survived by her husband, Jim, of 63 years; children, Nora (Dave) Herman, Dan (Martha) Peterson, Janelle (Bob) Zeleny, and Rachel (Phil) Brainard; grandchildren, Alex (Jordan) Lammert, Anna Peterson, Aiden Peterson, Andrew Peterson, Laura (David) Parker, James Brainard, Ava Brainard, Joshua Brainard, Jason (Melissa) Zeleny, Matthew (May) Zeleny; great-grandchildren, Adeline Lammert, Charles Lammert, Theodore Lammert, Hailey Zeleny; siblings, Joyce Kinzer, Tim Durick, Janelle Friedlander, Julie Berg.

The family would like to thank the staff of Bethany Lutheran Home for the wonderful care that Joan received over these last few months. The kindness and compassion towards her was always evident and appreciated.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Monday, September 22, 2025. interment will be in the Saint Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery - Boomer Township. The family will direct memorials in Joan's honor.