Joan Bergman

Joan Claire Bergman (Jagodzinski)

Joan departed this earthly world on November 1, 2020, at age 88, after a long and courageous battle with congestive heart failure and COPD.

Preceded in death by her parents, George and Helen Jagodzinski; sister, Elaine Neumann; and brother, Jerome Jagodzinski. Survived by her loving children, Lynn (Jim) Berghs, Carl (Nancy) Bergman, Beth (Dawn Bjerkelund) Bergman, and Mark (Jodi) Bergman; brother Gerald (Patti) Jagodzinski; and her beloved grandchildren, who were the light of her life.

Born in 1932 and raised on a farm in Silver Lake MN, Joan graduated from Silver Lake High School. She moved to Minneapolis, attended Estelle Compton Model Institute and taught at Patricia Stevens Finishing School.  In 1959, she married Herman F.  Bergman from Madison, MN. They built a home in Fridley where they raised their four children, divorcing in 1981.

Strong, sharp and independent, Joan later earned her SEC license, worked at Medtronic, the U of M School of Dentistry and the MN Assn. of Public Teaching Hospitals. In 1995 she graduated from Massage Therapy School. She taught her grandchildren to give amazing hand and foot massages—a gift they will always remember from their Grandma Joan.

A very spiritual person, Joan was a long-time member of St. William’s parish in Fridley, and later a member of St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis, where the philosophy of “acceptance wherever you are on your journey” and contemporary celebration were a perfect fit. She was passionate about personal growth and helping others, participating in and facilitating support groups for the divorced and widowed, Al-Anon, Alateen, and Emotions Anonymous. Joan could be found volunteering to serve holiday meals, or demonstrating for human rights.  She was passionate about justice and fairness, believing all persons deserve to be treated with dignity.

Joan loved to cook, always experimenting with new recipes. Whenever the family sat down to dinner, they were often greeted with a “surprise”. She loved tending plants, and every spring she delighted to see them “poke their little heads up”. She imbued her children and grandchildren with a love for nature.

Of all her travels, Joan most loved the desert Southwest. She felt close to God in the mountains and desert, among the saguaro cactus. In 1997, she moved to Tucson where she thrived for 18 years. She marveled at the desert landscape and wildlife—from the yipping coyotes to the mountain lions and bobcats to the Gambel Quail hatching in her planters. She treasured quality “Grandma” time, volunteered as a docent at Tohono Chul Park, and enjoyed drumming circles with the Desert Crones.

In 2015, her health began to fail, and she returned to Minneapolis to be near family, who were blessed to help care for her the past 5 years. To the end, she shared her dry sense of humor, her deep wisdom, her appreciation for nature, and most of all, her unconditional love and care. Her spirit soars in the hearts of her children and grandchildren, and in the beauty of her cherished Tucson desert.

A Celebration of Joan's life will be held Sunday, August 8 at BRADSHAW (3131 Minnehaha Avenue S., Minneapolis) at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior.

“Bloom where you are planted.”