Joan Peterson
June 19, 2009
Joan (Parmenter) Peterson, 69, passed away peacefully at the Taylor House Friday, June 19, 2009. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Grand View Lutheran Church, E. 13th and Hull. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.
Joan was born March 22, 1940 in Des Moines, the daughter of John Lee and Arlene (Heggen) Parmenter. She was a proud graduate of the January Class of East High School in 1958, and had retired from Principal after more than 30 years of service.
Joan is survived by her loving husband, Kenny Peterson of Ankeny; her beloved daughters, Mary Ellen Peterson of Indianola and Maggie Peterson of Des Moines; and her close family friend, Aunt Ellen Daniels. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the general fund at Grand View Lutheran Church.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Michele Palmer
06/25/2009
Mrs. Peterson was a real sweet and wonderful woman. She would keep us in stitches with her clever antidotes! One time she was telling a story and when it came to the part where Mr. Peterson had reached to remove something from her purse, she paused and said "Well, that was grounds for divorce," and continued on with the story flawlessly while my family and I laughed and laughed! We have never forgotten that - and it was just one example from the many that she came up with! She was always positive and upbeat!
She and her family celebrated Thanksgivings together with my family and I (when we lived down the street in Urbandale). We had no relatives nearby so she always made us feel like part of her family. I knew if I asked her a question or permission for something, when I was at their house visiting with Mary and Maggie, she would give the same answers as my mother - she was my stand-in Mom when needed. My Mom was comfortable knowing Mrs. Peterson was on the same page as her.
I know for a fact that knowing Mrs. Peterson made my life more special and filled with smiles everytime I think of her. I am also thinking of you all too - Mr. Peterson, Mary and Maggie. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Michele
The Knowles
06/23/2009
Dear Ken, Maggie, and Mary Ellen - we were so sorry to hear about Joan. You were such great neighbors and we missed you so when you moved - especially on Halloween. You are in our hearts and prayers!! - Debi, Terry, Kevin and Keith
Jeannine Booton Hall
06/22/2009
Joan, my dear friend I will miss you deeply. You always made sure that I knew what was going on with our "classmates" We had such fun together growing up, precious memories I will never forget. Below is a story I have from the past that I would like to share. We must have been going to Harding. You are "Beans, and Joan J was "Bones" and the story is just as she wrote it years ago.
Beans, Booton, and Bones at the Drake Relays
This is the story of three dopes who go to the Drake Relays every year rain or shine, but if you have ever been to the Relays you know that it is always rain!
This is the story of one particular year when as usual if rained cats and dogs and fishworms too. SLIME! Well anyway the three crackpots planned for a month ahead what they were were going to take and what they were going to wear. They decided to wear their Leivis, shirts, and tennis shoes. They also decided not to take a jacket of scarf because it would probably be to hot and sunny (?). They were going to take their lunch in a paper sack. And they decided to buy pom poms to take along.
At noon when they left to go to the relays it was still cloudy but they still thought it would cear up soon. So off they went running down the street to catch the bus , and getting on the bus singing at the top of their lungs and hollering at every one they saw, and waving their pom poms in strangers faces.
Whey they go out there and got seated and were just getting out there lunches it started to pour down rain. The girls were so surprised they just sat there for a minute letting the rain run off their faces, and letting their sandwiches get soggy to say nothing of the wet pom poms getting wet and when they get wet the color fafes and runs off. Well in five minutes their clothes were purple and white striped. But with not jackets or scarfs their was nothing they could do but get wet. So they started running toward the exits but they were were so jammed that they could just stand there and wait. Come to find out at the bottom of the exit there was an foot deep puddle that was about three feet wide so they had two choices either wade through shoes on or shoes off. Well Beans decided to wade shoes off and Boones and Booton went shoes on. Well after Beans feet were oozing with mud and slop and the other two had wet icky tennis shoes slurping around on thir feet. At least they got out of the stadium and started on their way home. But the worst of it all is the way they looked. Straight wet hair hanging down their face, wet shirts so wet that they were clinging to their skin, sopping leivis which when they got wet had shrunk (they were new) and they were so tight and shrunk so much that they hit them about the knees, and then the wet feet and faded pom poms to top it off. But of course if you knew these girls you know that they are not wastefull and they would not thow away a perfectly good lunch that had not been eaten hardly at all so they had their wet lunches with them too.
They by that time were so cold they decided to walk down town to get some hot chocolate (plus one green river for Booton) to warm them up. So they walked down town into a perfectly innocent drugstore and sat down gave their order to the waitress. While they were waiting for their order they decided because there was nothing better to do they would out stare all the other customers who were staring at them. When their order came they brought out their wet sandwiches (etc.) and ate their tasty little lunch.
After eating they popped a bus and went home! And to make a long story short neither Bones, Booton, nor Beans came to school the next full week. And if you cant guess why, I aint a gonna tell you. But those nuts had a fun boy.
THE END
By Bones
Michelle Larson Clement
06/22/2009
Ken, Mary, and Maggie
I am so sorry to hear of Char's passing. She was a great woman with many admirable qualities and a witty zest for life. I learned a lot from her my high school years - she was definatley a second mother to me. I just wish that I had kept in contact with each and everyone of you so that I wouldn't be sitting here bawling, wishing I had one more time to see her. My deepest condolenses go out to you in this time of grief. She will be missed, but her memories will be cherished forever
Terry Trunnell
06/22/2009
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. May God's peace surround you and the love of family and friends bring you much comfort. I'm praying for you and your family.
Kristi Ellingson
06/22/2009
Mary and family,
No words can take away the sadness and emptiness you feel. Cherish those wonderful memories you all have. I am so sorry and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Kristi
Chris and Andy Fredricksen
06/21/2009
Maggie dear....we are so very sorry for your loss of your mother. Don't forget we love you, and we'll be in touch.
Chris and Andy
Elaine Fredrickson Swain
06/21/2009
I was so sorry to learn of Joan's death. It was good to have seen her at our 50th East High School Reunion last May.I did not know her well, but know she will be missed by those who did. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who cared for her.
Roberta
06/21/2009
Kenny, Mary and Maggie,
I know your hearts are aching........ have a hole in mine also. As Elaine said, there will never be another Joan! I always referred to her as my favorite cousin, whenever I Spoke about her. We had some fun times together and she was Always there for me. She gave so much of herself to others and had such a great sense of humor. She could always make me laugh. When I get home I am going to list my favorite times with her, too numerous to do so now. When I whinned, she kept me grounded. She did so much more for me than I could ever do for her. Hold on to all your wonderful memories and hope we will meet again. She was ill a lot and too nice of a person to suffer. I'll bet she has them chuckling in heaven already! God Bless her and may God help you all through your grief!
love,
Roberta
Kathy Carson
06/22/2009
I worked with Joan for years at Principal (Banker's Life). She was a special lady that was loved by everyone that came in contact with her. I loved her sense of humor. She could come up with some one liners that you never seen coming. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends. Keep her close in your hearts and speak of her often to keep the memory of this great lady going!!!!!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kathy
Donna Jean
06/20/2009
Ken, Mary and Maggie,
What a sad day for us; it is so hard to realize Jpan is gone from our sight. My memories are numerous beginning with Joan as a baby. She was dear to me then and always had a special place in my heart. I remember that first summer when I went to visit at McKays, came back home and hurried over to see how much she had grown. Before I'd left she would hold my finger and smile but this time she had forgotten me and pulled her hand away---I was crushed of course but soon things were back to normal and I could play and watch her grow. We shared many, many birthdays and grew up together.
When I was in college at ISTC Joan and Elaine came to stay one weekend in the dorm bringing Rice Krispie bars. We missed breakfast but ate those cookies deciding it was, after all, cereal. Her quick wit, humor and laughter will always be with me until I'm senile---and she would have had something funny to say about that too!
My thoughts are with you all as we say good by for now, until we meet again without pain, struggles, free to laugh and enjoy memories together.
Sharing God's comfort and sending my love, Donna jean