Joan E. (Nelson) Peters

GOLDEN VALLEY–Joan E. (Nelson) Peters, age 91, of Golden Valley, passed away March 31, 2025 peacefully at home.

Joan was born in Lynd Township, MN, June 28,1933. She attended Lynd Country School, Lynd High School and Mankato State College. She was a loving wife to Jim, her lifelong sweetheart, who passed in 2018. The family enjoyed many camping trips, fishing up north and road trips across the United States and Canada. They spent a lot of time visiting and helping out at farms on both sides of the family. Later Jim and Joan also enjoyed traveling to Europe and Asia.

Joan volunteered for the Minnesota Gifted and Talented Association. She greatly enjoyed her 12 years as a commissioner on Three Rivers Park District Board, where she strove to protect the environment and natural resources and create high-quality park systems for future generations. She was also on the board of the Minnesota Conservation Corp. She was a true politically-minded individual and fought for the funding for many important spaces and programs. We will all remember her laugh and love of our family.

She is survived by sons John and James II, daughters Libby Best and Patrice Perkins (Dan), grandchildren Liz Dawson (Jack), Charlie Perkins and Emily Roberts (Rhett), great-grandchildren Hendrix and Siena Roberts and Theodore and Margaret Dawson, and sister Audrey Hammer and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, James, parents Werner and Irene Nelson (McLaughlin), and siblings Bob Nelson and Kathleen Giefer.

She will be dearly missed. Many thanks to her wonderful caregivers.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on April 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation at 10:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 145 Jersey Avenue S., Golden Valley, MN 55426. Private interment at a future date at Fort Snelling. www.davidleefuneralhome.com