Joan Josephson

Joan Josephson was born November 6, 1932 to Jens and Nora Mortensen and grew up in Gary, SD. She received a BA from Augustana College. In 1956, she joined her fiance, Charles Josephson, in Wuerzburg, Germany where they were married.

During Chuck’s military service, they were able to travel throughout Europe. Joan combined teaching with graduate school, receiving an M.A. in English from the University of Illinois.

Joan and Chuck’s family was completed when they proudly adopted two children: Kenneth, who passed away in 2013, and Ann (Mrs. Troy) Hanson, of Ferndale, WA. Music and musical performance were a great joy for Joan.

Wherever they lived, especially in Tucson, she played for church services as needed. She directed children’s choirs for some years at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, and for about 10 years provided organ and piano accompaniment for First Church of Christ, Scientist.

The Republican ladies of Tucson Republican Women were a delight for Joan to work with.

She served as President and later as Director of Southern Arizona Republican Women.

Often she expressed her gratitude for the help – as well as the sweet goodies – provided by the ladies who supported her in that leadership role.

Joan’s Alzheimer’s experiences, first diagnosed in 2008, were publicized and documented in several articles published in this newspaper and elsewhere.

Many have expressed appreciation for her willingness to share this part of her life. Joan is survived by her husband, her daughter, and three grandchildren, Kayla (Mrs. T.J.) Brown, Kathy and Brandon Hanson, all of Ferndale, WA, as well as two super-cute great-grandkids, Kenlie and Tayden Brown.

Any donations in Joan's memory will be placed in an educational fund for the great-grandchildren.

Joan Josephson

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The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492