Joan Kolstad

Joan Margaret (Lamey) Kolstad was born in Watopa Township, MN to John A. Lamey and Florence (Curdue) Lamey on February 19, 1929. She lived with loving siblings, John Lamey (Betty), Rosemary (Lamey) Peterson (Johnny), Leona (Lamey) Meisch (Robert) on the farm in the valley outside of Kellogg, MN.

Joan graduated from Cathedral High School in Winona, MN (1946) and attended Cotter Women's School in Winona, MN. She was a secretary for a doctor in Kellogg and worked in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic. Joan traveled to Connecticut as a nanny for the Pabst family (c1955). Many memories of the Pabst family and their children, Widgie and Stephie (Stephanie) were shared as part of her caretaking career. Joan returned to Minnesota and began her career as a long-time employee of the Mayo Clinic (1958-1963, 1965-1992) ending her caregiver career as a med-lab tech working in the Hilton blood bank.

She married Jerome S. Kolstad (b1918, d1978) in 1962 after meeting through family friends. They resided in Ridgeway, MN and began a family with the birth of daughter, Susan and son, Jerome Jr. (b1965, d1965). The family moved to Stewartville, MN and later to Eyota, MN (1968) where Joan resided until her move to senior care.

Throughout her life in Eyota, Joan enjoyed traveling with family and friends, many hobbies and caring for her granddaughter, Cambria. Joan enjoyed fishing and hunting, gardening, collecting rocks, knitting, quilting and rug hooking. She was an avid antique collector and loved a good garage sale. Her family secret-recipe fruitcake was shared annually with family and friends. And she always played more than one Bingo card. She shared loving friendships with neighbors, her companion of many years, Richard Stoos, and the Stoos family, as well as family friend, Craig Onken.

Always grateful-Joan was asking her family, friends and caregivers how they were doing and always thanking others for their kindnesses. Much laughter and antics were shared with friends and family throughout her 96 years.

Entering senior care, Joan lived in LaCrescent, MN, where she was close to her granddaughter, Cami. She transferred to live in a care facility in Eyota, referring to "the farm" as her home.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Susan Kolstad; granddaughter, Cambria Kolstad-DeVaney (husband, Daniel DeVaney), many nieces and nephews, and long-time family friends in loving bonds and kind caring.

Admiration and gratitude for Mayo Clinic Hospice and their kind care during her end of life.

A celebration of life service will be held from 2:00-7:00 PM on Monday, November 3, 2025 at Schad and Zabel Funeral Home, 115 South Avenue, Eyota, MN.

Schad and Zabel Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Kolstad family.