Joan Frances Nelson

Joan (Johnson) Nelson, age 67, passed away on Sunday December 4, 2016 at Banner Estrella Hospital in Phoenix after a long battle with cancer. A memorial dinner with family to celebrate Joan's life will be held at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines on Monday December 19th at 6:00 PM.

Joan (Johnson) Nelson was born November 4, 1949 to J. Leonard and Pansa Johnson in Des Moines, IA. Joan grew up in rural Elkhart, IA attending school at North Polk, East High School and eventually graduating from Des Moines Tech in 1969. In 1971, she obtained her Associates Degree from AIB in Des Moines. Joan married Delmar Nelson on October 15, 1966 and then made their home in Alleman, IA where they raised two children, Tony and Shannon. She worked for Iowa Power and Light and Central Tractor in Des Moines where she retired in 2002. Delmar and Joan moved to Deadwood, SD following retirement and then in 2012 moved to Phoenix where she spent her final days. Over the years, Joan spent countless hours watching her kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events and enjoyed traveling to wherever they were playing. Joan also enjoyed going to the casino and loved doing various crafts, sewing many quilts and garments for kids, grandkids and friends.

Joan leaves behind a husband of 50 years, Delmar Nelson, a son Tony (Kolette) Nelson of Waukee, IA and a daughter Shannon Manges of Mechanicsburg, PA, a twin brother John Johnson of Ankeny IA, two sisters; Janet (Jack) Tschampel of LeMars IA and Janel (Charles) Newman of Lynwood WA., 4 grandchildren; Jocelyn and Ashton Nelson, Andrew and Cohen Manges as well as many nieces and nephews.

Joan is preceded in death by her mother and father, and a sister Jackie Mars.

The family would like to thank the great number of caregivers over the years at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, MD Anderson and Banner Estrella Hospitals in Phoenix. I lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.