JoAnne Inga (Gandrud) Peterson

JoAnne I. Peterson, age 84, of Glenwood, died Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Glenwood Retirement Village. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 19th, at Glenwood United Parish with Pastor Yolanda Williams officiating. Visitation will be at the church, beginning at 1:00 P.M., and running until the time of service. Inurnment will be in Barsness Lutheran Cemetery, rural Glenwood. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

JoAnne Inga Gandrud, daughter of Joseph and Ethel (Smedstad) Gandrud, was born on July 5, 1938 in Starbuck Minnesota. She grew up on a farm near Glenwood along with her two sisters and brother. She received her elementary education in a one room schoolhouse before graduating from Glenwood High School in 1956.  She then went on to obtain a BA in Education from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Special Education from St. Cloud State University. JoAnne worked at Dawson Elementary and Montevideo Public Schools for over 30 years. She was a pioneer in the efforts to mainstream special needs students into the classroom, working with the University of Pittsburgh to pilot this innovative approach at the Montevideo schools.

JoAnne was married to David William Peterson of Cloquet, Minnesota on August 13, 1960 at Barsness Lutheran Church in Glenwood. They first made their home in St. Louis Park then Montevideo and Montana before settling back in her hometown of Glenwood about ten years ago. JoAnne was active in the First Congregational Church of Montevideo, AAUW, GSWC Study Club, and the Chippewa County Democratic Party where she served as chairperson. She was a member of Glenwood United Parish and active in other organizations in both Montevideo and Glenwood. JoAnne and David loved to travel the United States and the world. They celebrated 62 years of marriage the month before her death.

JoAnne loved playing the piano and had a passion for orchestra and theater. She was proud to be a long term patron of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Guthrie Theater, and Central Square Cultural and Civic Center. She enjoyed cross country and downhill skiing, canoeing, biking, reading, cooking, finding new recipes, and hosting memorable parties and events with family and friends. She taught us about “Woman Power”, getting to places on time (which meant 10 minutes early), a love for college sports (a lifelong Gophers fan), and the value of family and gatherings.

Great thanks and praise for the gift of an incredible mother, wife, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and all around unforgettable woman! The zest, power and love she brought to her life and shared with those who were fortunate to know her will never be forgotten. Even when JoAnne could barely walk, others struggled to keep up with her!!! She battled Parkinson’s disease for many years and most recently, cancer. JoAnne died peacefully at Glenwood Retirement Village on Sunday, September 25, 2022, after watching her MN Golden Gophers handily win their football game against Michigan State.

She is survived by her husband, David Peterson of Glenwood; their daughter, Beth (Severin Behnen) Peterson of California; their son, Ross (Amanda) Peterson of New Hampshire; three grandchildren, Ezra Peterson Behnen, Margaret “Molly” Peterson, and Nathaniel “Nate” Peterson; two sisters, Sharon Larson of Glenwood and Debra (Allen) Dahlseng of Glenwood; one brother, Robert (Nancy) Gandrud of Glenwood; foreign exchange son, Seved Lycksell of Sweden; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ethel; her niece, Jodi Gandrud Ballandby; and a brother-in-law, Donald Larson.

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