Joy A. Nygaard

Joy Amelia Nygaard (Severson) Joy A. Nygaard, age 92 of Red Wing, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at Augustana Care Center of Hastings. Joy was born in Minot, North Dakota on January 5, 1927, the daughter of Alma (Thompson) and Henry Severson. She grew up on the family farm and attended a little country school through 8th grade. She went on to graduate from Minot High School in 1944 then worked as a secretary to the principal for one year. After that year she moved to Rochester, Minnesota with her cousin from Wanamingo and worked as a typist for the Mayo Clinic. In 1947, she moved to Red Wing, Minnesota where she met the love of her life, Gilman Nygaard. They were married a year later and raised their family in Red Wing. Throughout her career she worked at Red Wing Pottery main office, becoming credit manager in 1965 until they closed the business in 1967. She then transitioned over to the Red Wing Pottery Salesroom as office manager for many more years. Joy had the greatest sense of humor and it is even credited as her best quality in her senior class yearbook. She and Gilman loved listening to country music, dancing, spending time with family and friends, and taking the kids on trips. They enjoyed traveling and camping nearby and all over the country. Joy was an excellent cook, a trait she inherited from being a farmer's daughter, and she made wonderful buttermilk pancakes, a recipe from her mother. She also was an excellent seamstress and quilter, enjoying her quilting group at church. One of her goals, was to make quilts for all her children and grandchildren, which she succeeded. As a family, they would enjoy Saturday nights together watching Gun Smoke and eating popcorn. They were huge animal lovers and always enjoyed having dogs and cats around; especially at their hobby farm in Burnside which is now The Falconers Vineyard . Later in life, her and Gilman's favorite pet was a cat named Callie. Gilman and her were avid card players and enjoyed playing in several card groups. After retiring, they enjoyed several winters as snowbirds in Arizona. Gilman passed away in 2008. Joy passed away at Augustana Care Center on the morning of July 31, 2019. She is preceded in death by her husband, Gilman Nygaard; her parents, Alma and Henry Severson; her siblings, Howard Severson, Dorothy Soum, Marion Hostager, and Alton Severson; and her great-great-granddaughter, Makenna. She will be dearly missed by her children, Rodney (Terri) Nygaard of Bloomer, Wisconsin, Cary (Betty) Nygaard of Hastings, and Susan (the late Roy) Barnes of Boulder, Colorado; her 6 grandchildren, Jay (Heidi) Nygaard, Darren (Jule) Nygaard, Heidi Nygaard, Casey (Kay) Nygaard, Lacey (Will) Arrington, and Lindsey Barnes; 10 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many other family and friends. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2019, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 615 West Fifth Street, Red Wing. Interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing. Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation for one hour prior to the service, and to a luncheon reception immediately following the service, all at church on Saturday. For guestbook and further information, please visit www.hastingsmnfuneral.com Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.