Ann Josephine (Engstrom) LAIRD

ENGSTROM, LAIRD, FRENCH, ERICKSEN, DEISCH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:41

February 19, 1922 ---- January 18, 2018

Joan Laird, 95, of Orange City, formerly of Storm Lake, died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, at Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Ann Josephine "Joan" Engstrom was born on Feb. 19, 1922, in Clarion, Iowa, the daughter of Frederick and Marie (French) Engstrom. After Marie's death, Joan was raised by her uncle and aunt, Edward and Martina Ericksen. Joan attended school in Clarion, graduating from Clarion High School in 1940.

On July 31, 1944, Joan was united in marriage to Robert Harold Laird in Minneapolis. Together, they were blessed with two sons, Edward and Alan. While their children were growing up, Joan stayed home and cared for them as well as being an entrepreneur, restoring and renting apartments. After her sons were grown, Joan was known by many for her time spent as a real estate broker in the Storm Lake area.

Joan was a member of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, where she served on the Board of National Missions as well as many other committees. Hobbies of Joan's included stamp collecting, gardening, sewing, knitting and playing bridge. She also loved living on the lake. Most of all, she cherished time spent with family and friends. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Dr. Alan Laird and his wife, Lisa of Orange City; daughter-in-law, Sue Laird of Fort Myers, Fla.; grandchildren, Kelley Laird of Fort Myers, Jay Laird of Longview, Wash., Jorden Laird of Front Royal, Va., Matthew Laird of Nashville, Tenn., and Daniel Laird and his wife, Rebecca of Roseville, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Connor Deisch of Front Royal; as well as extended family and friends. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Marie Engstrom; husband, Robert Laird; son, Edward Laird; brothers, Fred and Ted Engstrom; sister, Ona Marie Engstrom; and grandchildren, Jason Laird and Joshua Laird.

Memorials may be designated to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and Santa's Castle, PO Box 212, Storm Lake.

Sioux City Journal -- Sioux City, Iowa
January 24, 2018