Joan Regina Erickson, daughter of William and Frances Curran, was born August 4, 1930 at Elkport, Iowa. She attended country school in Elkport and St. Mary’s School in Guttenberg, Iowa.
She operated the AIB College Cafeteria for eighteen years and was a Real Estate Broker for forty years and retired at eighty years old. In the 1960s, she was named Woman of the Year. Joan was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and a charter member of the American Business Women’s Association and held several positions. She sold real estate for RE/MAX, serving on their advisory board and working as a manager, and held the following designations: GRI, CRS, CRB, and was a member of the million dollar club. Her favorite role was that of loving mother to Dianna and Michael.
She married George Erickson in 1961. He preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents, son Michael, sisters Kay Wagner, Terri Duncalf, and Mary Jenaman, brother James Curran, and long time friend and companion Larry Trout.
She is survived by daughter Dianna Wheatley and husband Charles, granddaughter Angela Cartier and husband Brian, granddaughter Nicole Hunt, grandson Shawn Brummett, great grandchildren Aaron (Katelyn) Depew, Sydney Depew (fiancé Trevor McFarland), Brianna Reilly, great-great grandchildren Jeremy and Blythe, brothers Bill Curran and wife Mary Ann and John Curran and wife Nelda, and sister Sharon Sever.
Her funeral will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, January 22 at Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to Special Olympics of Iowa or Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.
