Norman — Joanne Marie Peterson Kolstad, born January 25, 1928 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Henry George and Esther Evangeline Newell Peterson passed away at 82 years of age on March 13, 2010. A 54-year resident of Norman, she began her married life to Clayton Robert Thomas Kolstad on June 12, 1948 in Minneapolis and subsequently Montevideo, Minnesota before her arrival in Oklahoma.
A full-time mother and homemaker, she reared children Robert Bruce Kolstad and David Thomas Kolstad while taking courses at Oklahoma University.
After her sons completed their secondary education, she began a career at OU, culminating in a decade-long position as recruiting coordinator at OU’s office of Career Planning and Placement Services. She established herself as the ultimate hostess for the companies she served, building the organization’s perception of efficiency and effectiveness.
As a teenager, she was babysitter for Bud Wilkinson’s young children when he lived in Minneapolis. Her early career included a secretarial position at Engineering Research Associates in St. Paul, Minnesota where supercomputer designer Seymour Cray worked under William Norris, ultimate founder of Control Data Corporation.
In the late 1960’s, with two sons at home, Joanne skeptically took on an unexpected role: she guided a group of young Norman women through their high school Campfire Horizon Club experience, forging lifetime memories and friendships. They cite the wisdom and encouragement she provided in addition to her insistence on fulfilling commitments. As a living example, she maintained contact and joined them for reunions across three decades.
An excellent cook, her peanut brittle and baked goods consistently earned blue ribbons at the Oklahoma State Fair. Likewise, she excelled at handwork, including embroidery, cross-stitch, and petit-point, also earning Fair blue ribbons. She played duplicate bridge at the national level.
She was a dedicated reader and extremely amusing writer, keeping a daily journal for more than 40 years.
Joanne lived for her garden, becoming a certified master gardener, cultivating a large number of colorful varieties and sharing them with others throughout her life.
She lived life her own way, with dignity, grace, and class, living a busy, full life until her final illness.
Her parents and sister, Gail Peterson Polzin, preceded her in death.
Her loving and very supportive husband “Bob” Kolstad (of Norman) and sons Rob (of Colorado Springs, Colorado) and Dave (of Fort Lauderdale, Florida) survive.
At her request, no services are planned. Memorial donations may be sent to the Arthritis Foundation or any charity.
Submitted by family
