Annette "Joan" Nelson Dana

Annette "Joan” Nelson Dana, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Brookdale Senior Living, Mariana Butte, Loveland, Colorado on Saturday February 24th with family nearby. Joan was born in Kimball, Nebraska on August 19th, 1934 to Jacob and Matilda (Anderson) Nelson. She was the youngest of 6 children whose family were homesteaders in the farming and ranching community known as "Little Denmark” near Potter, Nebraska. She was an alumnus of the University of Wyoming and began her long career in teaching.  She first taught in a one room schoolhouse in Julesburg, Colorado then Cody and Sandcreek, Wyoming. Her love of teaching continued with 29 more years with the Albany County School District. Most of those years were spent with her beloved students, friends and colleagues at Thayer Elementary School in Laramie, Wyoming. She truly loved children and was a life member of the NEA. Joan was known for her ready smile and giddy laughter. Her hobbies included shopping, reading, playing bridge, traveling (especially visiting relatives in Nebraska, Hawaii, and cruises to Alaska), regular lunch dates with her TATE club, and numerous church activities. She was a life-long member of the ELCA and attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Laramie. As an enthusiastic fan of the Wyoming Cowboys, she and her husband were members of the Cowboy Joe Club and attended football and basketball games together. They were also regulars at the Elks Club dinners on Friday nights in Laramie. She was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 56 years, George Fredrick "Pete” Dana.  She is survived by her children, George H. Dana (Glenwood Springs, Co), Debra D. Clark and husband Gary (Pagosa Springs, Co), Sandra Dana (Kansas City, Mo), Donald B. Dana and wife Lenora (Loveland, Co), Karin D. Henry and husband Tom (Lake St. Louis, Mo), and her sister, Melba Hendee (Highlands Ranch, Co). Joan was a doting grandmother to 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren. She enjoyed playing card games and sharing hugs with them. The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Mariana Butte and Halcyon Hospice care givers for their kind and gentle care through her last days. All memorial funds will be donated to the restoration project for Saint Peters Church, the first Danish Lutheran Church in Nebraska. It is located near the families homestead. A celebration of life will be held at Viegut Funeral Home in Loveland, CO on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. Inurnment is being planned for the spring in Potter, Nebraska.