Joan Marie Mouritsen

Joan Marie (Wang) Mouritsen, 83, Hayward, WI and Naples, FL, and formerly Coon Rapids, MN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 21, 2026. She was born on March 2, 1943, in Burnett County, Wisconsin in a log cabin. Her family moved to Minnesota to the family farm and later to nearby St. James, MN when she was 9. She graduated in 1961 and was known for her baritone playing. She attended Mankato State University for 2 years, majoring in P.E. and math, and met her soulmate Richard (Dick) Mouritsen in ski class.

They began their 53-year marriage in south Minneapolis, where Joan was a homemaker before working at V-Nel Lettering, at St. Mane's Sporting Goods. Dick and Joan, along with their children Lori and Chris, spent every weekend at their cabin on the Snake River in Pine City, MN. In 1976, when they moved to Coon Rapids, Joan started her own lettering business, Custom Lettering. Eventually computerization took over and she got a job working in the office at Willamette Box Company doing payroll. In 1982, they upgraded their cabin and bought a place on Nelson Lake in Hayward, WI. They enjoyed fun times, playing jokes & plenty of laughter with their wonderful neighbors. Their pranks were legendary!

In 2000, Joan & Dick moved to Naples to take care of Dick's parents. This is when Joan of Art began, when she decided to try watercolor painting. She met great painting friends & eventually sold her artwork & notecards at Gallery & Gifts in Hayward. Her lifelong sewing skills helped her design & sell her own special purse, the Walkabout. After Dick died, their daughter Lori came to live with Joan after her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Despite the challenges of this disease, Joan remained cheerful & spunky & always wore a stylish outfit she found at the thrift store.

Joan is survived by her daughter Lori, sister Sharon (Bill) Roos, their children David (Barbara) Roos and Pam (Curt) Walters, sister-in-law Beth Mouritsen and her children Ian (Brittney) and Reagan, along with cousins and many many friends. She was preceded in death by her son Chris, her husband Richard, her brother Gary, and her parents Severt and Cora.

Celebration of Life will be on Sun. Sept. 20 at Presbyterian Church of the Master 789 Northdale Blvd, Coon Rapids, MN 55434 with visitation from 1:30-4:30 and service at 3:00.