Joan Marie Sahli

Aberdeen, SD-Mass of Christian Burial for Joan Marie Sahli, 92, of Aberdeen will be 3:00 pm, Thursday, October 19, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Very Rev. Gregory Tschakert will officiate.   

Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, followed by a reception and fellowship at Refuge Retreats Clubhouse, 711 N. Lancelot Drive, Aberdeen.  

Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. 

Joan died October 17, 2023, at her daughter’s home at Richmond Lake, surrounded by her loving family. Joan’s faith in her Lord was very important to her and she lived with his love and guidance every day.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Al and Joan Sahli Scholarship, c/o Aberdeen Catholic Schools/Roncalli, 1400 N. Dakota St., Aberdeen, SD 57401.

Joan Marie Via, daughter of Samuel Ralph Via I and Helen June (Alyea) Via was born April 25, 1931, in Indianapolis, IN. This is where she grew up, graduating from George Washington High School. She then attended Butler University studying Pre-Med until her life plans changed when she met the love of her life, Al Sahli on a blind date. Al was stationed at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, IN.

They were united in marriage on August 1, 1953, at Camp Atterbury. They made their home in Aberdeen where they raised their five children. Joan was a stay-at-home mother who was a quiet mama bear of her cubs and saw to all their needs but raised them to be self-sufficient adults. Joan’s life with Al was filled with beautiful memories that she has carried with her all these years as Al died on October 17, 1986, at the age of 58. When Joan worked at Super 8 Management, she was fondly nicknamed “Just Joan” because her co-workers who were younger or managers that she spoke with daily always wanted to call her Mrs. Sahli and she would say “Just Joan”, a nickname that has carried with her over the years.

Joan cherished the time she was able to spend with her family. The many trips that they took as a family and those that she was able to take with her sister, Darlene, and friends, she would talk about for years.

Family in Joan’s life was all she needed. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who called her Gigi were the light of her life. Whether it was through a visit, photo, phone call, or one sitting on her lap, she spoke of them all with a glint in her eye because they were hers.

Grateful for having shared Joan’s life are her five children, Annette (Paul) Petersen of Hurley, SD, Michael Sahli of Tidioute, PA, and Jeffrey (Tammy) Sahli, Lisa (Michael) Carlsen and Todd (Jody) Sahli, all of Aberdeen; 11 grandchildren, Dustin Sahli, Nicole Sabella, Brett Petersen, Adam Sahli, Graham Sahli, Emily Weiland, David Sahli, Allie Ryckman, Bailey Tysdal, Evan Sahli and Rachel Murdy; 33 great-grandchildren, one sister, Darlene Gosnell, two brothers, James Via and David Lucas, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Gerald Wanttie, Richard (Caroline) Sahli, Jane Ann (Donald) Olson, Alma Sahli, Michele (Mel) Lindemann and Teresa (Jim) Schmitz.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, George Lucas, husband, brother, Samuel Via II, and sisters, Betty Via and Patricia Via, sisters-in-law, Clara Sahli, Elaine Sahli, Mary Sahli, Katherine Wanttie and Marianne Sahli and brothers-in-law, Bernard Sahli and Dennis Sahli.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen.    

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