Joan Alberta Oppegard
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Born: October 3, 1934, Saint Paul, MinnesotaDied: December 23, 2007, Knoxville, Tennessee
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OPPEGARD, JOAN ALBERTA - age 73 of Knoxville, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, December 23rd. Beloved wife, mother and Mamaw, Joan dedicated her life to loving and guiding her large family. Left to mourn her passing is Galen Keith Oppegard, her husband of 50 years, her 8 children, and 30 grandchildren. Joan was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on October 3rd, 1934. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN. An important part of her life was living and sharing her faith. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to always attend church and grow in the love of Christ. Joan was founding member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church where she remained an active and fervent member the rest of her life. From large candle-lit dinners for the Holidays to garden parties for the grandchildren, Joan created special memories for all. She loved crafts and cooking. She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed and smocked beautiful heirloom garments for her grandchildren. In addition to being a teacher, Girl Scout leader, and career counselor, Joan's hobbies included analyzing the Stock Market. She established a women's investment group and taught classes in stock selection throughout Knoxville. Joan combined her loved for travel and education with a trip to New York City and a meeting with the President of the New York Stock Exchange. Joan believed in being an achiever and encouraged her loved ones to do the same. One of her proudest moments came when her son, Peter Oppegard earned an Olympic Medal in Pairs Figure Skating in Calgary Canada in 1988. Joan, our: Beloved wife, Bride, Grandmother, Mother, Coach, Tour Guide, Counselor, Musician, Disciplinarian, Story Teller, Listener, World Traveler, Teacher, Friend, Manager, Mother-In-Law, Mamaw, Nurse, Servant of the Lord. You are loved and you will be missed, but you will remain in our hearts forever. Joan was preceded in death by parents: Theodore and Loretta McAfee. Survivors include husband Galen Keith Oppegard; 8 children, Patricia (Peter) Dueber of Knoxville, TN, Peter (Karen) Oppegard of Newport Beach, CA, Peggy (Michael) Thomas of Kansas City, KS, Pamela (Matthew) Carter of Tunbridge Wells, England, Pierrette (Ken) Mathes of Knoxville, TN, Paulette (Bill) Foley of Lakeville, MN, Paul (Lori) Oppegard of Knoxville, TN, Preston (J.J.) Oppegard of Durham, NC; 30 grandchildren, Stephanie, Kaylee and Nicholas Dueber, Olivia and Sophia Oppegard, Andrew, Will, Danielle and Brittany Thomas, Elliot, Madeleine, Eugenia, Hugo and Henry Carter, Michael, Julia, John, Joseph, Thomas and Elizabeth Mathes, Kayla, Jack and Adrienne Foley, Kayla, Nolan, Marlie, Jenna, and Gavin Oppegard, Anna and Megan Oppegard. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 27 at the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with a Christian Wake Service to follow at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 28, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Forest Cemetery. A dinner will follow the events at the Church Great Room. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John Neumann Catholic Church Building Fund, 225 Jamestowne Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37934 or to Gift of Life Transplant House, 705 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902