Joan Claire Gustason

Joan Claire Gustason, 88, of Mt. Iron passed away at the Diamond Willow Assisted Living facility on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

Joan was born on May 19, 1935 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to Arthur Thomas and Margaret Alcott. At the age of five, she moved to Virginia, Minnesota. She graduated from Roosevelt Virginia High School and married Ray Walimaa. She served her community as a leader for the Junior Achiement program, teaching young people business skills.

In 1976 she followed her heart and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she worked for an electrical contractor and enjoyed fishing and spending time in the great outdoors. She returned to her hometown of Virginia in the mid 1990s. Joan's sense of humor will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children: Michael (Melinda) Walimaa of Tennessee, Mary Jo (William) Bird of Mt. Iron, MN, and Brian Walimaa of Florida; sister Debbie (Larry) Perslin; and six grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her significant other, James Gage, and her sister Harriet Thomas.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Range Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia, with visitation an hour prior. Pastor Amy Janssen will officiate. Burial at Calvary Cemetery will follow the service, with luncheon at the Range Funeral Home Fellowship Hall afterwards.