Joan Karleen Rousseau was born on September 9, 1930, in Argyle, MN, to Anton and Ethel (Haugen) Hunstad. She graduated from Argyle High School in 1948. Joan was baptized and confirmed at Alma Lutheran Church. After high school, she attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, North Dakota, and became a billing clerk at Fargo Paint and Glass Company.
She married Robert A. Rousseau on June 17, 1950, in Argyle, MN. They lived in Moorhead, MN, and near Glyndon, MN, before moving to Crookston in 1954, where they built their home and raised four children. Bob, “Shorty”, died in January 1986, and Joan moved to Fisher, MN, in 2003 for a short time. She then settled in Crookston, MN, until her stroke in 2016. Shortly after, she moved into Assisted Living, and most recently in the Elim Care in Milaca, MN.
Joan was a stay-at-home mom till the kids were in school and then worked as a classroom aid for the mentally handicapped in the Crookston Public Schools. Later, she worked as a home health aid for Polk County Nursing Service. After Bob died, she became a certified reflexologist and had numerous clients, as well as mentored others in the art and science of reflexology.
She participated in a number of churches and had a personal faith in Jesus.
Joan was loved by many. She is remembered for her warm, welcoming spirit, frosted sugar cookies which she gave to family and friends to celebrate birthdays, lots of lefsa, as well as her “foot rubs”.
Joan is survived by her daughters, Roberta (Philip) Peterson, Milaca, MN, Renae (David) Warn, Monticello, WI, and son Kelly (Debbie) Rousseau, Fremont, WI; Nine grandchildren, Travis Peterson, Tara Peterson-Anderson, Brandon Moulds, Luke Moulds, Casey Moulds, Keaton Warn, Carter Warn, Jordan Rousseau and Benson Rousseau; Three great-grandchildren; brothers, Ralph Hunstad, Duane Hunstad, and Howard Hunstad; and son in law, Duane Moulds.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 1986, daughter Krisiti Moulds in 2003, siblings Ivadell Clausen, Earl Hunstad, Darrell Hunstad, Donald Honstad and parents.
