Joan B. Nichols

Joan Peterson Nichols was born on March 8, 1931 in Sioux City, Iowa, along with her twin brother John. They were the youngest of five children of Oscar and Helen Peterson. She grew up in the tiny town of Ponca, Nebraska and lived there until she left for college at Wayne College in Wayne, Nebraska and later the University of South Dakota. Joan moved to Denver in 1955, following her older sister Barbara. She met Leo Nichols while working at Metropolitan Life Insurance and they married on December 29, 1956. Joan loved to work and took pride in her work ethic and even the number of jobs she held after her official retirement from Lutheran Medical Center, including ""fun"" jobs at Walmart, as a leasing agent at a town home complex, marketing firm, as a cashier in a liquor store and teller in a credit union. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. She took serious her job of picking her granddaughters up from school and sports when they were younger, doing several crossword puzzles a day in ink, politics as a staunch Republican, current events and connecting with new and old friends. One of her greatest talents was rollerblading. She loved to blade and was constantly scoping out new places to blade. She worked out on the treadmill daily until a year ago. Joan loved the rosary and would take time to say it 3 or 4 times a day, and more if someone needed prayers. She had her own prayer list and it was up to 72 people at the time of her death. She was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Notre Dame Parish and was humble as she delivered items to those less fortunate. She attended the 6:30 am Mass every day and it was a highlight of her day. Despite her small stature, she was an incredibly strong and determined lady and endured many hardships. She loved to laugh, was quick to lead and was considered the matriarch of the Peterson family and was known as Mom by many. Joan was predeceased by her husband Leo, in January 1999, twin brother John, sister Barbara and numerous friends. She is survived by her children Dan (Diane) Nichols and Lynne (Don) Kinney, and two granddaughters Caroline and Danielle Nichols, all of Lakewood. She is also survived by her brother James Peterson, several nieces and nephews, and sister-in-laws. Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Denver, in honor of her granddaughter Danielle. Please share your condolences of Joan and condolences with her family by signing the guest book below.