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Joan V. Smith-Nelson

May 04, 1933 - Jan 02, 2021

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Joan V. Smith-Nelson of Sheboygan, passed away on January 2, 2021 at the age of 87. Joan was born on May 4, 1933 in Sheboygan the daughter of the late Edward and Viola(Boenisch) Tershner. She attended Lincoln School and graduated from Sheboygan Central High School with the Class of 1951. Joan later attended Madison Area Technical College where she studied accounting. Joan was united in marriage to Eugene A. Smith on December 31, 1952 in Augusta, GA. While residing in Madison from 1981 until 1998 Joan was employed at the Famous Footwear Corp. Headquarters and also with Luedtke-Storm-Mackey Chiropractic, Hazelton Labs and Pharmerica. Upon returning to Sheboygan she was the secretary at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church until her retirement in 2003. In August of 2007 she was united in marriage to Rev. Carl Nelson at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Joan had a variety of interests that included reading, exercise, crafts, music, sports (especially the Packers), dancing and photography. Having five sons, Joan was active with the Boy Scouts of America, receiving the District Award of Merit, the highest honor given at the time to a female leader. Her other activities included politics on the local, state and national level, membership in the Literary Council, the Red Hatters and the Golden Chordaliers. Joan participated in the Interactive Reading Program at Northview School in Howards Grove, Jefferson School in Sheboygan and Christ Lutheran in Brea, California.

Always active in her church Joan had been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church Sheboygan, the Lutheran Church of Living Christ, Madison, Christ Lutheran in Brea, CA and was currently a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Sheboygan.

Joan is survived by her husband, Rev. Carl Nelson; her sons, Kerry (Mary) Smith of Sheboygan, Edward Smith of Sheboygan, Andrew (Barbara) Smith of Milwaukee, Scott Smith (special friend, Laurie) of Sheboygan and Patrick Smith of Green Bay; her grandchildren, Amanda, Justin (Jessica), Jordan, Aaron, Rebecca, Christen, and Raina Smith, Jessica (Josh) Allen; her great grandchildren; her sister, Barbara Stroschoen of Milwaukee and her sister-in-law, Harriet Tershner of Kohler. She is further survived by four stepchildren, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, three infant brothers and brothers, Ron, Jim, Richard, Ray, Robert and Jerome Tershner.

A funeral service for Joan will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2021 at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 6706 Superior Ave., Kohler, at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Joan’s name.

Funeral Service

Date: Thursday Jan 7, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Greenlawn Memorial Park - Chapel of Eternal Light [map]

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Linda Schmidt

I 'm so sorry for your loss Carl.❤️ Thinking of you and your family. My heart goes out to you..