Joan Nelson

Joan (Johnson) Nelson passed away on Sunday, Dec. 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, Dec. 19th at 6:00 P.M. Joan (Johnson) Nelson was born Nov. 4, 1949 to J. Leonard and Pansa Johnson in Des Moines, Iowa. Joan grew up in rural Elkhart, Iowa 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 Oct. 15, 1966 and then made their home in Alleman, Iowa 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, S.D. 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, Iowa; and a daughter, Shannon Manges of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; a twin brother, John Johnson of Ankeny, Iowa; two sisters, Janet (Jack) Tschampel of LeMars, Iowa and Janel (Charles) Newman of Lynwood Wash.; four grandchildren, Jocelyn and Ashton Nelson, Andrew and Cohen Manges; as well as many nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her mother; 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.