Obituary of Joan Barbara Nordlund Brown

JOAN BARBARA NORDLUND BROWN Columbia, SC - Joan Barbara Nordlund Brown passed away at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital on Saturday, October 11, 2014. She was born on February 19, l934 in Strathcona, MN, the daughter of Mabel and Richard Nordlund. Joan graduated from Greenbush, MN High School in 1948 and North Dakota State University in 1952 with a degree in Home Economics. She returned to Greenbush and taught in the high school from which she had graduated four years earlier. In 1959 she became a DOD Civilian Employee and moved to an Army Post in Poitiers, France where she taught in the DOD Dependent School System. There she met 1Lt Terry Brown and they were married in Strathcona on July 8, 1961. In 1962 they moved to Killeen Base, TX and their son Scott was born at Fort Hood, TX on June 2, 1963. Their son Steven was born in Charlottesville, VA on Sept. 1, 1965 and their daughter Katrina was born in Thief River Falls, MN on July 25, 1966. Joan moved numerous times in connection with her husband's military career. Throughout that 31 year period she demonstrated the best traits of an Army wife: creating warm homes for her family, single handedly caring for their children during separations, and selflessly volunteering for a myriad of community activities for which she often received well deserved official recognition. At times she was also employed in the retail fabric business both as a salesperson and a manager. Joan and Terry moved to Columbia in July 1987 and he retired from the Army in November 1989. Joan again worked as a manager with both Joann's and Hancock Fabrics until her retirement. In 1995 she began volunteering at Harvest Hope Food Bank and that service became a joy in her life. She volunteered in the Product Rescue Section until her health precluded in 2013. She continued to collect food and donations for the food bank at the Memorial Chapel on Fort Jackson. Joan quietly and courageously battled a number of debilitating physical problems for many years, always without complaint or rancor. Throughout that time she continued to live life to its fullest as well as giving freely of her time and talent to others. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, COL Terry Brown; son, Scott Wallace (Adele); son, Steven Richard; daughter, Katrina Marie; and sister, Nathalia Orpen (Leo). A Celebration of Joan's life will be held in the Chapel at the Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, SC 29209 at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 followed by the burial in the Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joan's name may be made to Harvest Hope Food Bank, P.O. Box 451, Columbia, SC 29201. The family wishes to thank Palmetto Health Hospice and particularly Marchelle Gouvin and Sue Drinkwater for their loving care in Joan's final days, as well as the staff of the 10th and 11th floors of Richland Memorial Hospital. On-line condolences may be sent to www.Thompsonsfuneral.com.