Joan Nason Kittelson

Joan Nason Kittelson, 89, of Yankton, passed away Saturday, December 20, 2025 under hospice care at the Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, SD, from complications due to several years of dementia and alzheimer’s disease. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am, Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton. Visitation will be from 5:00-6:30 pm, Monday, December 29, 2025 at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton with a 6:30 pm rosary service and 7:00 pm prayer service. Burial will be Tuesday at Sacred Heart Cemetery following the Funeral Mass. Online condolences may be sent at www.okfhc.com. Livestreaming of Joan’s service can be viewed at: https://server.attend.live/static/event/qxA2D. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joan Marlys Nason was born June 17, 1936, at McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, the first of five daughters to Lester and Vivian (Root) Nason.

After graduating Washington High School in 1954, she enrolled at Presentation School of Nursing at McKennan Hospital. Joan received one of the first full ride scholarships, in this region, from the Forty and Eight (40 & 8) Society. Upon graduation her first professional assignment was to establish and supervise the initial McKennan Hospital recovery room.

Joan moved to Colorado in 1958 to further her nursing career at hospitals in both Denver and Colorado Springs. While in Colorado Springs she met her future husband Karol, also a Sioux Falls native, who was a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. They were united in marriage on February 11, 1961 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls.

Joan and Karol lived in Aberdeen and Vermillion, South Dakota before moving to Chicago and later Minneapolis. In 1976 they made a final move to Yankton, built a house on the east side of town and lived there for 48 years.

For the next 20 years, with her nursing experience, she gave applicant physicals for insurance companies. She also served for several years on the Yankton County Mental Illness Review Board.

Joan enjoyed many hobbies including biking, tennis, gardening and swimming. She logged thousands of lap swimming miles at the Sacred Heart Wellness Center. She was accomplished in knitting and embroidery, making over 20 afghans.

In retirement, Joan and Karol enjoyed more than three dozen cruises over 15 years.

Joan is survived by her husband of 64 years, Karol; son Eric (Paula) Kittelson of Andover, MN; daughter Jennifer (Oscar) La Fuente of Charlotte, NC; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren; three sisters, Kay Cohoon of Festus, MO, Darla (Rance) Wright of Watkinsville, GA and Dorothy (Mel) Holmbeck of Sioux Falls, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and infant sister, Mary Elizabeth.