Ethel Joan Peterson

Ethel Joan Peterson died on July 9, 2015 as a result of complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. She was born to Elizabeth (Isabelle) and Julius Peterson in August, 1946 in Manitowoc, WI. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers – Tom, Jim, and Ed; her sister Dorrie Beyer; her first cousin Aggie Olayvar; and by her longterm teaching colleague and friend, Gloria Overeem.

Survivors include sisters Ellen (Bob) Thiede and Mary (Don) Maurer as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews, in particular Jill Thiede, Suellen Cantrall, Kim Sudar, Cal Beyer, and Darrell Beyer. Joan is also survived by her special first cousins Jerry Meyer, Elaine Meyer, and Carol Lamont. Each of these special family members was closely connected to Joan throughout most of her life. Joan is also survived by her dearest and closest friends – Mary Kay Davies, Patricia Maguire, and Janice Macarthy, who enhanced her life with years and years of supportive listening, inspiring and entertaining conversations, and loving encouragement, as well as a lifetime of laughter and tears. Joan also thanks Kathleen Bahler for the guidance and direction that she provided Joan throughout her adult life.

Upon reading Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in her teens, Joan chose the words from that work, “And Gladly would (she) learn, and Gladly teach” as her life’s mission. Joan taught special education for the Green Bay Public Schools for approximately 30 years before retiring (for good) in January, 2008. For Joan, teaching was a means of giving back to others. Joan was devoted to helping her students reach their full potential just as she, herself, was by her own teachers in her formative years.

In retirement, Joan enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, particularly with her friends who gleefully declared themselves “The Queens”. She also biked as often as possible and exercised regularly at the YMCA and the Kroc Center. Joan loved volunteering for various social agencies in Green Bay, particularly the Aging and Disability Resource Center and the NEW Curative Workshop.

A public memorial service will be held for Joan at the First United Methodist Church in Green Bay Wisconsin, 501 Howe St, on Saturday July 18, 2015. A visitation will be at 10:00am with a service at 11:00am to Celebrate Joan’s Life. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to KenyaHELP (3335 Langdon St, Green Bay, WI 54311), a local 501c3 non-profit that focuses on enabling education for Kenyan teenagers that Joan supported for many years.