Joan Mary Van Noske

Joan Mary Van Noske, 91, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on October 9, 2026. She was born on July 23, 1935, in Rockford, Illinois, to John and Pearl (Eberhardt) Peterson.

On August 6, 1955, Joan married Stephen R. Van Noske at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver. Stephen’s service in the U.S. Air Force took their family to many different places. Together, they had three children: Robert, Diane and Donna. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

Joan worked at Target for many years and took classes at the Community College of Aurora in Colorado. She loved to skate and, during her single years, frequently took her granddaughter Jennifer to Skate City.

Joan was a Denver Broncos fan who enjoyed watching a game with a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a small Coke. She also believed McDonald’s coffee was “the best coffee in the world.”

Toward the end of her life, Joan formed meaningful friendships with her caregivers at Melody Living in Colorado Springs, including Robyn and Tonya, among others.

Joan is survived by her three children and their families:

Her son, Robert “Bob” Van Noske, and his wife, Nita, and their children: Jeanette Van Noske; Christopher Van Noske and his wife, Theresa, and their children, Aidan and Conner; and Cassey Goff and her children, Tayton, Spencer and Madeline Mae.

Her daughter, Diane Krug, and her husband, James, and her children: Jennifer Ridler and her husband, Joseph Burns, and their children, Colin and Elliot; David Ridler and his wife, Monica, and their children, Caden, Corbin, Kiana, Kaila and Ava; and Austin Krug.

Her daughter, Donna Rosen, and her husband, David, and their sons: Brandon Rosen and his wife, Renee, and their daughter, Roxanne; and Sean Rosen and his partner, Andrew.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, John and Pearl Peterson, and her sister, Ruth Legal.