Joan Joyce Lundering

*Please note that Furness Funeral Home is not handling the arrangements for the Lundering service, but rather posting the obituary as a courtesy to family*

Joan Joyce Lundering passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024, surrounded by loved ones and caregivers, in Phoenix, Arizona. Joan was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.

Joan was born in Clark, South Dakota on April 6, 1933. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Clark, attended Thorp Consolidated School and then Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. At Augustana, Joan earned a degree in education, sang in the Augustana Choir, was the leader of many campus organizations, and was selected by her classmates as Homecoming Queen.

Joan lived in California for several years, serving two congregations as a pastor's wife, and in 1967 moved with her growing family to Tucson, AZ to serve the congregation at Spanish Trail Lutheran Church.

In addition to teaching Sunday School classes, directing church choirs and participating in innumerable church activities, Joan was a teacher at Steele Elementary School in Tucson. She went on to earn a master's degree in special education from the University of Arizona, devoting her career to helping kids with learning disabilities. Joan accomplished all of this while raising four children.

Joan was a wonderful, devoted mother and grandmother. She had unwavering faith, loved being involved in church, enjoyed traveling in Europe, and especially loved her time with family in the Rocky Mountains.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Betsy (Waxdahl) Warkenthien, sister Jeanne Bernard, and beloved grandson Zachary Haas. She is survived by her brothers Glen and Ted Warkenthien Jr., her children Scott Lundering, Todd Lundering, Jennifer Kennedy (Mike), Amy Tostrud (Jon), and her beloved grandchildren Kelsey, Christopher and Eric Kennedy, Michaela Haas, and Luther Tostrud.

Joan's funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 11:00 a.m., at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in honor of Joan Lundering to Banner Alzheimer's Foundation, 2901 N. Central Avenue, Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85012 or online at: https://secure.bannerhealth.com/site/Donation2?idb=1574666690&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1&df_id=5081&mfc_pref=T&5081.donation=form1&idb=0.