Joan Rigby Nissen

Joann Rigby Nissen, a near 60 year resident of Petaluma, California and more recently residing in St. George, Utah, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017, age 90. Daughter of Golden and LaVerne Barker Rigby, she was the third child of seven siblings. Born in 1927 in Newton, Utah, Joann, whom everyone knew as Joan, attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah. She was married in Logan in 1948 to Vance DeMont Walker Jr. They settled in Petaluma, California, and raised three beautiful children; Sandy, Fred, and John. After DeMont’s passing in 1967, Joan went back to school for a teaching degree, continuing her education at Sonoma State University, Sonoma, California, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She taught for many years in the Petaluma area and was given a life-long teaching certificate. Toward the end of 1969 she married Albert Hans Nissen, a Petaluma native who ran his family’s chicken ranch. Al had four children of his own; Lynn, Heidi, Nancy and Eric. After 42 years of marriage, Al passed in 2012 in Petaluma. Joan and Al were world travelers, journeying the globe from the velvety green valleys of New Zealand to the Blarney stone of Ireland, and countries in between. They had a love of Dixieland jazz and were avid dancers, dancing in several local groups as well as across the oceans as they cruised. When they weren’t on an exotic cruise or dancing with friends, they were at home tending to their myriad of well-kept plants and their berry garden. Joan’s homemade ‘grandma jam’ was a coveted item and still remains a precious commodity among the Walker families. She spent nearly 20 years as a volunteer at the Petaluma hospital and touched many lives during her service there. Joan is preceded in death by her sweet daughter Sandra Kae, her step-daughter Nancy, and her sister Barbara R. Bird. Joan is survived by her eldest son; Fred Rigby (Dianne) Walker and grandchildren; Kaylee (Nathan) Dunnigan and Samuel Walker, and younger son; John DeMont (Megan) Walker and grandchildren Daniel, Davy, and Matthew. She is also survived by her five siblings: Flora Bird, Margene Bradshaw, Jay (Helen) Rigby, Frances (Norman) Ravsten, and Mary (Gordon) Jenkins. She is survived as well by her step-children Lynn Sutherland, Heidi Mischel, and Eric Nissen. Joan lived a long, adventurous life full of family, friends, music, and places. She will always be loved and forever in our hearts. Family gathering will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 19th at Cache Valley Mortuary, 80 West 4200 North, Hyde Park, Utah. Interment will follow at the Mendon Cemetery.

Joan Rigby Nissen

January 24, 1927 - August 14, 2017