Joan Marie Peterson

JoAn Marie Peterson Gerber

1938 2023

JoAn Marie Peterson Gerber, 85, our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away on July 7, 2023, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on February 8, 1938 in Valentine, Nebraska to Clarence and Evelyn Epke Peterson. She was a very sweet child with a gentle spirit. Her parents taught her the value of patience, hard work, and honesty; just a few of the exceptional qualities that she possessed throughout her life. She was love personified and had a rare gift of helping others to feel valued and loved. She had a great appreciation and reverence for nature and all of its beauties.

JoAn graduated from Valentine High School in Nebraska in 1956 and went on to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. There she met the love of her life, Russell Clinton Gerber. In 1959, they were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They had four children: Tamra, Kristine, Nathan, and Sarah. They lived in Highland, Utah for many years on a small farm with cows, pigs, chickens, and a huge garden. Summers were spent canning and freezing produce, as well as sharing with neighbors and friends. JoAn enjoyed sewing and often made her childrens clothing, from marching band uniforms to wedding dresses and everything in between. She had a great talent for crochet and loved to make baby blankets for her grand and great-grandchildren, as well as intricate designs with crochet thread. Her hands were always busy serving and making life better for those around her.

When Russell started a concrete business, JoAn worked side by side with him. She developed a talent for finishing concrete. When Dad needed a cement project to be finished with perfection, he would put Mom on the job. Later, she became an administrative assistant at the Department of Workforce Services in Provo, Utah. She excelled there until she retired at age 71.

JoAn converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when she was 18 years old. She was a devout and faithful member throughout the rest of her life. She enjoyed many service callings in her life, including serving as Relief Society (the womens organization) president of her ward (congregation) and later on the Stake Relief Society Presidency (organization over several congregations womens groups). She loved Family History and worked tirelessly to find her ancestors, being especially mindful of children or babies who may have been forgotten in the historical family records. One of her favorite service callings was to write to missionaries who were serving around the world. Later in life, JoAn could often be found at her computer, indexing historical records for Family Search or continuously searching for her ancestors. She worked tirelessly on this right up until the end of her life. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had a great love and reverence for her Savior.

JoAn is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Evelyn Peterson; brother, William Bill Peterson; sister, Claris Peterson Haas; husband, Russell Gerber; and daughters, Tamra Gerber and Kristine Gerber. She is survived by her son, Nathan (Janelle) Gerber of Pleasant Grove, UT, and her daughter, Sarah (Brad) of Fishers, IN; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral services for JoAn will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Cedar Hollow 2nd Ward Chapel, located at 2178 North 1200 East, Lehi, UT. Family and friends are invited to attend a viewing from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment will follow at the American Fork City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Humanitarian Fund for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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