Joan Louise Nugent passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024, surrounded by family. She spent her final hours listening to Irish music and stories of her life with her children and husband Denny. Oh what a wonderful life she lived!
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church near Churdan with Fr. Bill Schreiber as Celebrant. Music will be by the St. Patrick’s Choir with Lois Last as organist, Greg Carey as Cantor, and Katelyn Jackman as soloist. Lector for the Mass will be Ellyn Cowan, Emma Cramer, and Emily Nugent. Gift bearers will be Joan’s grandchildren. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mat Nugent and Maryn Nugent. Casket bearers will be Joan’s grandchildren. Honorary casket bearers will be members of the Calhoun County Nursing Honor Guard. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 11:30 A.M. – 12:45 P.M. prior to the Mass.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the St. Patrick’s Cedar Historical Church Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Joan was born December 9, 1939, in Flint, Michigan to Clarence and Margaret (Wagner) Gray. She went to St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and subsequently worked at Hurley Hospital in Flint, MI, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Dennis Nugent. The two were married on March 3, 1962, and raised 5 children. Joan was a nurse through and through. After working in the ICU at Hurley Hospital, she went on to volunteer as school nurse at St. Patrick’s School in Sheldon, Iowa. From there, she worked at Sheldon Community Hospital, Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, and Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City. She also taught nursing at Iowa Central Community College. She spent her last years in nursing as a parish nurse for St. Patrick’s Cedar and St. Columbkille’s Churdan until retiring at the age of 80. She completed her BSN at the age of 56 from the University of Iowa and was chosen as one of Iowa’s 100 Great Nurses in 2012. Joan was a creative soul who loved to paint and work with her hands. She loved to fix everything, and all forms of construction projects. At the end of the day she could be found making cookies, crocheting a blanket for one of her grandkids, or baking one of her famous birthday cakes. One of her favorite projects was the renovation of St. Patrick’s Church. She was also instrumental in achieving historical designation for the church in 1992. One of her greatest desires was for St. Patrick’s to not only survive but thrive within the Cedar community and it has!
Joan is survived by her children, Anne Nugent (Dr. Mark Pospisil) Churdan, IA, Mat Nugent (Sue) Shakopee, MN, Mike Nugent (Jennifer) Hutchinson, KS, Dr. Andrew Nugent (Diana), Coralville, IA, Meg Nugent, Hampstead, NC. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Katelyn Jackman (Dan), Ellyn Cowan, Corrinne Nugent, Evan Nugent, Maryn Nugent, Kieley Nugent, Micah Nugent, Ryanne Nugent, Nathan Nugent, Emily Nugent, Sean Nugent, Madeline Nugent, Rachel Nugent, Jack Lanham (Alyssa), Emma Cramer (Caleb), and Avery Lanham; Step-grandchildren, Sarah Ehlen (Sam), Tyler Pospisil (Kristen), and Amy Pospisil as well as, her great-grandchildren, Stella and Jack Jackman. Lastly, she is survived by her sisters, Lois Harris (Jesse), Shirley Koch, and brother Dr. C. Patrick Gray.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Clarence Gray, mother and father-in-law, Susy and Clare Nugent, brother-in-law, Steve Koch, and her best friend, husband, and dearest companion, Dr. Dennis Nugent.