Joan Marie Craig, 71, of Thief River Falls, MN died on Wednesday, November 16, 2011  at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Bert Foster officiating.  Burial will be held at Pinehill Cemetery in Williams, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, November 18, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Joan Marie Nordlund was born on November 12, 1940 in the middle of a the Armistice Day snow storm at the home of her aunt in Gibbon, MN, the daughter of Harold and Phoebe (Peterson) Nordlund.  She was baptized into the Baptist faith at the Clear Lake Baptist Church in Gibbon, MN.
Joan attended a one room country school through the sixth grade and then attended Gibbon High School graduating in 1958; she then attended Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, MN.
Joan worked as a claims adjustor for eleven years at Ministers Life Insurance Company in Minneapolis, MN.

On November 24, 1967, Joan was united in marriage to Donald Dean Craig in North St. Paul, MN.  The couple lived in Minneapolis for a year following their marriage and then moved to Williams, MN.  To this union three daughters were born, Kelly, Paula, & Wendy.  Joan was an involved mother who spent a lot of time volunteering at school, canning, tendering her garden, raising her family.  She was very proud of her culinary skills; Joan made wonderful strawberry jam and mouthwatering baked bread.

Joan also volunteered to deliver meals for the senior center in Williams; she managed the finances for the Williams Housing Development; visited the elderly in their homes and drove them to their appointments.  As her children grew older, Joan worked as a desk clerk at Reeds Landing in Warroad, MN.

Joan and Donald enjoyed several winters in southern Arizona and after Donalds death in 1997, Joan moved permanently to Thief River Falls, MN.   She also spent several winters in Mission, TX with her good friend, Mario Pisano.

She attended the Church of Christ in Williams, MN and is currently a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Thief River Falls, MN.

Survivors include her loving daughters, Kelly (Tod) Matelski of Warren, MN, Paula Craig of Argyle, MN, and Wendy (Bill) Klopp of Thief River Falls, MN; five grandchildren, Andrew Drake Matelski, Trevor Donald Matelski, Samantha Morgan Klopp, Taylor Steven Klopp and Christopher Allen Klopp; brothers and sisters, Jerome (JoLene) Nordlund of Gibbon, MN, Judy (Vern) Riebe of Dassel, MN, Kathy (Bruce) Greenberg of Rockford, IL, Brian (Renata) Nordlund of Duluth, MN; aunt, Doris Melquist of Apple Valley, MN; very special friend, Mario Pisano of Thief River Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald; sister, Pauline Nordlund; and her parents.

Accompanist:  Polly Reed
Congregational Hymns:  Amazing Grace & The Old Rugged Cross
Casketbearers: Joans nephews, Bruce Riebe, John Nordlund, Jason Nordlund, Jeffrey Nordlund, Robert Craig, Donnie Pat Craig, Christopher Craig, Thomas Flygare, David Flygare
Honorary Casketbearers:  All of Joans Nephews