Obituary of Joan Alice Netter (nee Larsen)

Joan A. Netter (81) of Hanna, AB suddenly passed away on January 29, 2024 while undergoing treatment for weakness at Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary. Her family is profoundly saddened but grateful that she was living with and near her family in the last year of her life. This unexpected loss will be felt by many people in the different communities that she lived in.

Joan was born on August 12th, 1942, in Fortuna, CA to Ruth and Johannes Larsen and lived out her childhood and young life in Ferndale, CA along with her two siblings, Ed and Jerry. An avid musician and vocalist, she was heavily involved in music her entire life. At Ferndale Union High School, she was Drum Major for the Marching Band, Pep band Leader, Honour Band member and part of the Chorus group. In addition, she received much praise for her work as Editor of the school newspaper in her Senior year and her specific ability to make Physical fitness an enjoyable part of the school experience. She was well known and loved for her friendship, musical talent and Faith in God through High School and indeed throughout her entire life.

While attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma Washington, on a bus trip with the University band, she fell asleep on the shoulder of an aspiring Clergy student named Frank Netter and they eventually married in 1963. As a couple they moved to Dubuque, Iowa for Seminary training. Joan worked as a Teller at Dubuque Bank and Trust as they began building their life together, and they had their first child (Timothy) in 1966. Answering their first call in the Lutheran church, they moved to Scandia, Alberta, Canada in 1968. The following year they welcomed their second child via adoption (Jonathan) and would also adopt a baby girl (Lori) in 1971. St Olafs Lutheran church in Kindersley, Saskatchewan was the next congregation for the couple in 1972, where Joan became an integral part of the Christian and Musical community. She was a Choir Director for the church, which led to Director of the Community Choir and eventually she was the President of the Saskatchewan Choral Federation, all positions that she took a great deal of pride in. Joan was never an idle person, she was a pillar of the family, supporting the ministry and raising her three children while also working as a full time School Bus driver. Summer vacations to see family in the states, or touring through western Canada and the Pacific Northwest with a camper in tow were meticulously planned and provided a much anticipated adventure for the family. After the kids were grown and out of the home, they moved to Cold Lake, Alberta for the next step in the Ministry in 1990, where they stayed for the next 15 years and Joan worked as a driver at CFB Cold Lake in addition to starting as a Tax preparer for H&R Block. In 2005, the couple moved once more to the final stop in their journey in the Lutheran Ministry, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hanna Alberta. Joan settled in and grew to love the community. As she had always done in her life, she became a visible part of the community in the church and as a self-employed driver, making countless trips assisting elderly community members with their appointments in Drumheller or Calgary. Joan stayed in Hanna after retirement and Frank passing away in 2020. Her home and wonderful Crimson Buick were a great source of pride for her as she settled in to retired life, planning numerous trips with friends and family to reunions, cruises and a Lutheran themed tour of Germany.

As health became an issue in the last few years, Joan made a prudent decision to sell the home in Hanna and make the move to Calgary to live with her son Jonathan and his wife Rasha. Lori and Jonathan made many trips to Hanna to begin the task of packing up an entire lifetime of pictures, mementos and household goods. In the process, the kids were able to learn so much about her entire life as they went through box after box of detailed accounts and memories in her life. In Sept, 2023 all three kids were there on moving day from Hanna to Calgary where Joan lived until her passing.

In addition to her love of music, friendship, faith and travel, Joan was a very proud Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Her smile would stretch for miles as she interacted with her Grandchildren and in the last few years with the great Grandchildren who she adored so much. Her life was a blessing to all she knew, to her family who loved and respected her so much, to the Ministry and the Christian faith.

She will be missed, but never forgotten.

Joan is predeceased by her mother Ruth Larsen, father Johannes Larsen, brother Ed Larsen and husband Frank Netter.

Joan is survived by the following immediate family members:

Brother Jerry Larsen of Redding, CA

Son Timothy Netter (Kamala) of Aurora, OR - children Ben and Megan

Son Jonathan Netter (Rasha) of Calgary, AB - children Sophie and Jack

Daughter Lori Berarducci (Shane) of Calgary, AB - children Darian and Mathieu

Granddaughter Darian Edwards (Trever) of Calgary, AB - children Adalynn, Delilah and Ethan

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, 11a.m. at the Hanna Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hanna, Alberta. Joan will be laid to rest with her father John Larsen in the Ferndale Cemetery, California, USA at a later date.

If desired, donations in Joan's memory can be made directly to either:

-Hanna Redeemer Lutheran Church, Box 746, Hanna, AB, T0J 1P0,  rlchurchtreasurer@gmail.com, 

-The Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation, 100-119 14 Street NW, Calgary,AB, T2N 1Z6, https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ 

-Saskatchewan Choral Federation,  212 - 1860 Lorne Street, ​Regina, SK, S4P 2L7, https://www.saskchoral.ca/donate.html,