Obituary: Joan M. Charnetski Peterson

Joan Mary (Carmody) Charnetski Peterson, 85, of the Town of Egg Harbor, died June 23, 2017 at Door County Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility.

She was born September 16, 1931, in Sturgeon Bay, the daughter of the late Paul Joseph and Anna Margaret (McCarty) Carmody. Joan attended school in Carlsville and graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1949. She attended Door Kewaunee Normal School for teaching before finishing her degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Joan returned to Door County and began teaching at Washington School, then Pershing School. She was eventually hired to teach at Sevastopol Schools with the consolidation of rural schools. Joan taught elementary school, but the love of the third grade stood out through her career. She retired from teaching after 42 years and would continue enjoy substitute teaching in her retirement.

Joan was a very kind, strong, outgoing and determined woman. She was the matriarch of her family. Education was important to Joan, and if anyone in her relation needed advice or financial help to attend school, she would fill the need.

In 1953, Joan married Leon Edward Charnetski and he preceded her in death on August 4, 1960. They had one son, Steven. On December 26, 1974, she married Alvin Peterson, and he preceded her in death on January 21, 1986.

Joan had a very strong faith and was active at her church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Egg Harbor as a liturgical minister, altar society member, sodality member, and as a teacher for CCD classes. She was active at the YMCA, helped with hospice and respite ministries, and Learning in Retirement. Joan loved to travel the United States and the world (England, Ireland, Mexico, and family reunions in Canada). She was active until her stroke four years ago, but she still loved family visits and was a great card player along with other board games.

Joan’s love will live on in the hearts of her son, Steven (Karen) Charnetski of Sturgeon Bay; step-son, Chip (Kathy) Peterson of Nevada, step-daughter, Bonnie Smith of Florida; eight grandchildren, Lori Jorgenson, Leon (Lacy) Charnetski, Kyle Charnetski, Elizabeth Peterson, Jenny Peterson, Pat Smith, Mike Smith, Dustin Overbeck; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Kathleen Kaye of Carlsville, Eunice Londo of Sturgeon Bay, Sister Ann Margaret Carmody of Green Bay; brother, Frank (Sue) Carmody of Green Bay; her Charnetski family, two sisters-in-law, Jeanette Mauck, Dorothy Balisteri; three brothers-in-law, Donald (Helen) Charnetski, Kenneth (Beatrice) Charnetski, Eugene (Sharon) Charnetski; her Peterson family, brother-in-law, Robert (Phyllis) Peterson; sister-in-law, Helen Peterson; and many friends.

She was welcomed Home by her parents; husbands, Leon Charnetski and Alvin Peterson; granddaughter, Stacey Green; three brothers, Robert, William, Michael (Rita); sister, Barbara Carmody; and two brothers-in-law, Norbert Kaye and Melvin Londo.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Stella Maris Parish-Baileys Harbor site with Fr. David Ruby as celebrant. Joan will be laid to rest beside her husband, Leon, in St. Mary’s of the Lake Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.