Joy Elizabeth (Pearson) Nadeau, 67, of Big Lake, MN passed away peacefully on January 2, 2024, surrounded by the love of her life and family.

Joy grew up in Robbinsdale, MN and loved going up to her family's cabin in Big Lake throughout her childhood. She graduated from Robbinsdale High School in 1974 and then went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1978. Children's education was a passion of hers, so she founded Patchworks Preschool in 1990 where she taught preschool for 10+ years before going back to school to get her teaching certificate and became a middle school Reading teacher at Big Lake Middle School. In pursuing her passions, she left teaching to take on a focus of helping children in need and worked at Big Brother's Big Sister's followed by an Executive Director position at Sherburne County Area United Way.

Joy was predeceased by her father and mother Jack and Loey Pearson and sister Jan Pearson.

She is survived by her husband Owen, her son Clay (Heather), her daughter Chelsie (Brett), her daughter Claire (Tony), and her grandchildren Henry, Lexi, Tess, and Hazel. Plus, her wonderful siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews.