Joan M. Nichting, 90, of Pilot Grove, IA died June 4, 2022. She was born April 29, 1932 near Houghton, IA to Bernard J. and Cecilia Pieper Holtkamp. She was united in marriage to Sylvan J. Nichting on October 14, 1952 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Houghton, IA. They lived in their home in Pilot Grove, IA for 63 years. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker who built her life around her family and her church. Joan loved her family unconditionally and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by them all. She valued education, hard work, and generosity, and could be counted on to get things done. Joan was a devout Catholic and left a wonderful legacy of faithfulness and love for the Lord. A member of St. James Catholic Church, a highlight of her life was serving on the Renovation Committee, which she described as a labor of love.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sylvan, of 64 years, her parents, three brothers, Rev. Karl Holtkamp, Linus Holtkamp, Robert Holtkamp, and two sisters, Martha Link and Margaret Schierbrock.
She is survived by one daughter, Sylvia Wetta (Robert) of Vestavia Hills, AL; three sons, J.J. Nichting of La Jolla, CA, Thomas Nichting (Janet) of Omaha, NE, and Michael Nichting (Heather) of Rochester, N.Y.; grandchildren Bryan Wetta (Luisa), Michael Wetta (Kristen), Emily Buerger (Fritz), Kathryn and Mark Nichting; great-grandchildren Ben, Megan, Claire, Jack, Caroline, Charles, and Henry Wetta, Madeline, Juliet, and Owen Buerger.
Her body has been donated to the Department of Anatomy at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE. Per her wishes, a memorial mass and burial for immediate family will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul, IA and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, IA. Memorials may be mailed to Barr Holtkamp Funeral Home, P.O. Box 247 in West Point, IA 52656. Online condolences to the Nichting family may be made at the Barr Holtkamp Funeral Home website, www.barrholtkampfuneralhome.com.