JoAnn Joy (Nelson) Dufault

JoAnn Dufault, 78, of Warren, MN, died after a battle with multiple cancers, in her home under care of hospice, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, with her husband beside her.

JoAnn Joy Nelson was born on November 16, 1947, in New Rockford, ND, to Kermit and Cora Nelson. The family moved to Kennedy, MN, she was young, JoAnn graduating from Kennedy High School. She attended nursing college in Thief River Falls and happened to meet her future husband at a dance in Radium. JoAnn and Royal Dufault were married ten days after she turned 19, on November 26, 1966. The young couple lived in Grand Forks and Argyle until 1968, when they relocated to the Minneapolis area for the next three decades. JoAnn worked as an LPN at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids for most of her career. The comforts of “home” were always calling and, despite the active flooding, moved back to Argyle in 1997. They sold their farm and moved into Warren only a couple years ago, where a new home was filled with some of JoAnn’s favorite things: new outfits, jewelry, and art. What didn’t fit in her large closet was soon housed in her “she shed.”

JoAnn became a Certified Healing Touch practitioner and worked in Warren for a number of years, though she never let her LPN license lapse. She enjoyed the spiritual things of life, and made friends easily with her openness and glowing smile.

She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Royal; son, Todd (Sue) Dufault; granddaughter, Emily; brothers, Gene (Ordell) and Don (Bonnie) Nelson; and sister-in-law, Peggy Pientok.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Kermit and Cora; and her in-laws, Harvey and Elvera Dufault.

"JoANN TIME": Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 PM, in DuBore Funeral Home Chapel.
SHARING OF MEMORIES: 5:30 PM or so.
INTERMENT: Privately in Jupiter Mission Cemetery of Kennedy, MN.