Joan Arlene (Peterson) Goulet

Joan Arlene Peterson Goulet died on February 21, 2026, at Adams Woodcrest Nursing Care in Decatur, Indiana. She was deeply loved and adored by her family who surrounded her in her last days. Her Catholic faith was very important to her, and she was blessed to be cared for in her final days by a caring Catholic nurse whom we believe was sent by God.

Joan was born on March 14, 1933, in the back bedroom of her parents' home in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, to Lawrence and Loretta (Leary) Peterson. She was the youngest of five, and she proudly and lovingly spoke of each of her siblings for the rest of her life. She attended grade school in the red brick school across the street from her childhood home. Joan set a pace that rarely slowed. She attended St. Mary’s Academy in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, as a boarding student, graduating in three years, and followed her sister into nursing at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Madison, earning her degree in August, 1953.

Joan began her career during the Polio epidemic- an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to preventative vaccines.  She worked at Wood VA Hospital, then at St. Michael’s Hospital in Milwaukee, later returning to St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. Even as a young mother, education was important to her; she took classes at IU Kokomo, often reading coursework aloud to her children, who may or may not have appreciated Gulliver’s Travels at dinnertime.

On a cold Tuesday morning, January 27th, 1955, Joan married Ronald Peter Goulet at her family’s parish in Gays Mills, Wisconsin. Ron was on semester break from the University of Wisconsin, so they had a five-day honeymoon before real life resumed. They enjoyed 58 happy years together, despite Ron’s habit of introducing her as “my first wife.”

Together Ron and Joan built a life, moving from Madison, Wisconsin, to Niagara Falls, New York, to Souderton, Pennsylvania, along the way welcoming Susan, Bill, and Bob. They settled in Russiaville, Indiana, where they built a house on a “big hill” and welcomed John Michael. When John developed leukemia at age two, Joan and Ron traveled to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee. Though they tragically lost their son, Joan remained a devoted supporter of St. Jude’s for the rest of her life- even forgiving a bit of colorful language from Danny Thomas when she and John met him.

Professionally, Joan returned to nursing in 1973 as Director of Nursing at Americana Health Care Center in Kokomo. She was proud of her skill in giving painless shots when she volunteered at immunization clinics. Joan loved being a nurse, and she kept her license active well into her seventies.

Ron and Joan moved from Russiaville, to Brighton, Michigan, and back again to Kokomo. She never forgot her original Russiaville neighbors, though, and she counted them as lifelong friends.  After Ron’s death in 2013, Joan moved to Monroe to be close to Bob and Jayne and their family. She loved living in Monroe, just a stone’s throw from Betsy and Nate’s house and Katie and Ben’s house, and she quickly made friends in her new community playing Bridge, attending the St. Luke Women’s Bible Study, walking, and attending every activity that her great grandchildren were involved in. She didn’t want to miss anything. Joan nurtured a village of loved ones who kept watch over her. She loved to host people, and it was always a thrill for her when her family and friends from far away came to stay with her. Joan was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur where she loved going to Mass. Even before she moved to Woodcrest Assisted Living, Joan really enjoyed going to Mass there, too.

One of the highlights for Joan each year was her trip to Wautoma, Wisconsin for the Peterson Family Reunion. It was very important for her to go, and she loved seeing how many of her Indiana family she could talk into going, too. When she arrived in Wautoma each July, she was always greeted by all her Wisconsin family as though she was the Queen. She loved them fiercely, and the feeling was mutual.

Joan’s interests were as varied as her collection of hobnailed milk glass. She and Ron loved golf, cross-country skiing, walking, travel, and bridge. She enjoyed Scrabble, reading (often with a fabric cover to obscure the racy pictures on the front of her otherwise tame paperbacks), crochet, snow, and sewing- especially on her mother’s vintage machine. She made pajamas, beautiful matching dresses for her granddaughters, and even her daughter's wedding dress. Upon their birth, every grandchild and great-grandchild received a quilted bag with their name appliqued on it.

Joan was famous for molasses crinkles and chocolate chip cookies (her sister-in-law Lillian’s recipe). She traveled with a tin in her suitcase.  One year, she was going to miss the Peterson Family Reunion; her witty brother, Jim, said it was no problem, as long as she sent cookies.  When her family thought her famous molasses crinkle recipe had been lost, they later found her recipe card, only to discover it was copied straight from the molasses jar. She kept Oreos and Reese's peanut butter cups stocked for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she adored beyond measure.

Joan’s legacy includes children:  Susan Goulet Bartholomew (Mark), Bill Goulet (Kyle Kulcke), and Bob Goulet (Jayne Byerly Goulet); her seven grandchildren: Brendan Bartholomew (Samantha), Anna Bartholomew Mooney (Jimmy), Ellen Bartholomew Leary (Steven), Katie Goulet Linder (Ben), Betsy Goulet Thieme (Nate), John Matthew Goulet, and Amy Goulet Reinhard (Joel); her thirteen great-grandchildren who brought her endless pride and joy:  James (her only redheaded descendant) and Brendan Mooney; Paige and Quinn Bartholomew; Lexi and Luke Linder; Colton, Julia and Ava Thieme; Jack, Blaire, Quinn Reinhard, (and Baby Reinhard due next month); and Loretta Leary. Joan also had many grand pups that she never hesitated to welcome into her home.

Joan is also survived by her brother Bob Peterson, and sister-in-law Delia Goulet Bujold, and many treasured nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ron (July 14, 2013) and son, John Michael Goulet (October 4,1969 - January 10, 1973) her parents, and her siblings: Colonel Paul Peterson (Virginia), Delores Peterson Fergot (Howard), James O. Peterson (Mary Ruth), and Ron’s brother, Lawrence Goulet (Carol) along with her sister-in-laws, Lillian Peterson, Mary Ruth Peterson, Virginia Peterson and her brother-in-law, Tyrone Bujold.

Joan will be missed more than words can say, but her stories, her laughter, and her love will continue. In her honor, bake cookies, play a hand of cards, hug your people tightly, and perhaps raise a cup of coffee (or a half glass of beer) to a woman who enjoyed a long and happy life.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home.

A Funeral Liturgy will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home, with visitation before the service from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Father Jacob Runyon will be presiding and burial will take place in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery, Kokomo, Indiana at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude’s in Joan’s honor at stjude.org.

Arrangements are entrusted to Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home.

Visit www.hhzfuneralhome.com to leave an online condolence.

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