Joan Harriet Waund, of Fort Myers, FL passed away peacefully of pneumonia on Wednesday, October 12, surrounded by her family quietly singing favorite hymns at her bedside. Born May 22, 1935 to Swedish parents near their farmstead in Belgrade, MN, Joan was first in the family to leave farming and pursue a college degree at New Mexico State University.
A lifelong Methodist, Joan met her life partner Bud (Dunrith) Waund, an Iowan with a severe heart defect, at a campus church event. They were married August 28, 1955, starting an improbable 61-year union—a testament to her tenacity, faith, and love.
The young couple moved to Hawaii, where Joan completed her degree in Home Economics. This began a 10-year period during which they relocated 13 times, inspiring Joan’s motto, “Bloom where you are planted,” and highlighting her knack for always transforming a house into her family’s home. Navigating Bud’s 1960 experimental Mayo Clinic open heart surgery with a newborn and toddler in tow teaches us today what devotion to a spouse truly means.
Joan’s impact as a mother extended to her nieces and nephews following her brother Jack and wife Viola’s untimely deaths, to whom she said, “You all have another mom now.” She also enjoyed a lifelong mother-daughter relationship with Kyoko, an AFS student, who instantly became a Waund the moment she crossed the threshold of Joan’s front door.
Professionally, in 1976, Joan opened the Footbridge shoe store with co-owner and close friend, Carol Woodruff, in Le Sueur. She then moved onto a highly successful career in real estate in Prior Lake, beginning in 1983. Joan ultimately recruited Bud to join her in 1990, and “The Lakeshore Specialists” were born.
Joan was always dedicated to community service, be it her election to the local School Board, 4-H club leadership, or her active membership in organizations such as FISH, AAUW, NOW, UMW, and many others.
Over the years, Joan enjoyed spirited time with family and friends—playing bridge, bowling, sewing, baking, and cooking. Most notably, she shared a love of boating with Bud which began in their first 16-foot aluminum boat, grew to a summer lake cottage, morphed into a lakefront Prior Lake home, and culminated with river trips from Minnesota all the way to Florida. Eventually boating the inter-coastal waterway with friends based in Fort Myers became their passion for many years.
Preceded in death by her father, Carl; mother, Ethel; aunt, Hildure, and beloved brother, Jack (Viola) Anderson. Joan is survived by husband, Dunrith “Bud” Waund; cousin-sister, Janet Braaten; children, Debbie (Steve) Linnes, Denise (Gary) Gibson, and Dane (Cindy) Waund; Jack’s children, Jim (Sue) Anderson, Mary Kay (Monte) Herrmann, John (Shirley) Anderson, and Cheril (Eric) Rios; Joan’s AFS Japanese daughter, Kyoko (Naoto) Nikai; grandchildren, Dana Linnes, Derek Linnes, Drew Linnes, Darby Waund, Kelly (Kevin) Friedrich, Ryan Gibson, Ross Gibson, Danielle Gibson, and great-grandchildren, Connor Friedrich and Logan Friedrich.
A visitation will be on Tuesday, October 18th from 4-7 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake. Funeral will be Wednesday, October 19th at 11AM with visitation 1-hr prior at Holy Trinity United Methodist, 16150 Arcadia Ave. SE, Prior Lake. Interment at Spring Lake Cemetery overlooking the water on the shores of Prior Lake.
The family invites all who knew Joan to a celebration luncheon at The Wilds Golf Club, following the service.
