Joan Vasgaard

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Joan Vasgaard was born July 2, 1948, to Norris and Iola (Gubrud) Kurtz. She went to see her Lord on April 10, 2026. She was greeted by her son, Dr. Joel Vasgaard. Joan loved living on the family farm near Elkton, SD and spent much of her time outdoors helping her father. She often talked about her early education in a one room schoolhouse called Parnel #9. Before her 8th grade year, the family moved to Hawarden, IA where Joan quickly adapted to the city life. The family later returned to Elkton where she graduated from Elkton High in 1966. Joan continued her education at SDSU graduating in 1970. While at college she worked at the housing office, played in the marching band all 4 years, pep band at home games, and was an RA at Pierson Hall for several years. Her senior year she joined a Joyfolk singing group at the University Student Center where she met her future husband. In the summer of 1970, she worked at Wilderness Canoe Center as a guide and counselor. She loved her time in the wilderness and forest. In 1971, she married John “Chuck” Vasgaard and the couple had almost 55 years of marriage. They lived in Baltic, SD for about 7 years. They were members of Baltic Lutheran Church. Joan started the children’s choir, and they performed musicals. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, sang in choir, and started an outdoor nativity pageant in a farmer’s barn. In March 1977, they moved to an acreage near Lake Wilson, MN. The family acreage always housed a variety of animals and Joan always had a big garden and shared her harvest with others. In 1997, Joan started to plan and designed a new family home, which the family built. Joan led an active and busy life being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She also was Cub Scout Leader for several packs. She helped start the Lake Wilson Community Theater, which did musicals each summer for 10 years. She played in community bands. She was on the Prairie Music Board. Joan was a Rural Mail Carrier for 17 years out of the Slayton Post Office. She developed many friendships and many experiences in that job. After her retirement she and Chuck took several bus trips as well as a trip to Switzerland. At the start of the COVID shut down, Sillerud Lutheran Church assigned to some of its members the task of writing to those elderly who could not attend. She started out with 7 and that number soon grew to about 28 letters a month. Leading to a devotion letter she created weekly and send out. Joan never missed a chance to make a new friend or make someone feel special. Her bubbly smile and warm personality will be missed.