Joan Claire Tschida, 91, died March 17, 2020. She was born in 1928 to Elmer and Grace Pepin.
Joan grew up on Dayton’s Bluff in St. Paul and graduated from Harding High School in 1946. She was a strong, stoic woman who loved her family, which she raised on St. Paul’s North End. Joan was artistically talented and instilled a love of reading in her children. She returned to work for the Minnesota Historical Society when the kids were independent and was a longtime board member of the Little Canada Historical Society.
Joan retired to Roseville and spent many happy summers at the cabin with her family on Long Lake near Hillman, Minn. Joan was an avid cribbage player, a connoisseur of Chinese food and a self-proclaimed techie who loved to send and receive texts and emails. Joan loved knitting and her work included Christmas stockings for her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Tom, sister Grace and infant daughter Rosemary. She is survived by her children, Jeanette (Mark) Wickoren, Daniel (Diane), Sally (Kevin) Greer, Lorelei (Kevin) Kaetterhenry, Suzanne (Todd) Tschida-Findell, Alan (Sharon); 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren with two on the way; and siblings, Betty (Ken) Herriges, Margaret (Don) Talbot and Joe (Alice) Pepin.
A visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will occur at Maternity of Mary Church at a future date as the public health situation allows. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Special thanks to the staff of Good Samaritan, Heritage Place where Joan resided her last five years. Thanks also to Health East Hospice and the Ramsey County Care Center staff and management for their loving care and kindness during Joan’s final days.
